Ruby red Pasco stays ruby red, but even there, abortion and pot were favorites

Pasco County voters unsurprisingly elected and re-elected Republicans up and down the ballot last Tuesday, and rejected two statewide amendments seen as liberal priorities, though more than half of voters supported initiatives to protect abortion access and legalize recreational marijuana.

Neither amendment was successful by Florida’s standards, which require 60% voter support. Pasco’s tallies underperformed the state, but only barely.

Democrats had hoped the abortion issue would drive up voter turnout. It did, but not in a way that benefitted Democratic candidates.

The trends suggest that even if conservative-leaning voters support abortion access, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll support Democrats.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics