Missouri GOP Seeks to Repeal Abortion Protections, Eyes Near-Total Ban in 2026

Missouri’s abortion landscape is facing another seismic shift. Just months after voters enshrined abortion protections in the state constitution via Amendment 3 in November 2024, the Republican-controlled legislature has fired back with a new proposed constitutional amendment. Passed by the Senate on Thursday, this measure aims to repeal those hard-won protections and could reinstate a near-total abortion ban, with exceptions only for cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk.

The GOP’s move sidestepped a Democratic filibuster through procedural maneuvers, showcasing their determination to roll back abortion access. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election—or sooner, should the governor call a special election—this amendment would undo the will of Missourians who narrowly passed Amendment 3. That 2024 citizen-led effort had repealed the state’s trigger law, which banned nearly all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Missouri Senate Democrats decried the GOP’s push, accusing Republicans of defying voters. The debate remains heated, with the state’s political fault lines laid bare. This latest maneuver underscores a broader struggle: balancing legislative power with the voice of the people in a deeply divided state.