Defend Life Montana is a campaign committee formed to oppose the passage of ballot initiative CI-128, which enshrined a right to abortion in the Montana state constitution. The organization and its allies spent $500,000 throughout the campaign compared to over $17 million spent by pro-abortion organizations. Defend Life Montana specifically sought to mobilize Christians and churches to oppose the bill. The amendment was passed with 57 percent of voters in support. 1 2 3 4
Founding and History
Defend Life Montana was formed in May of 2024 to oppose the passage of ballot initiative CI-128. This amendment would change the Montana state constitution to expressly enumerate a right to an abortion. Specifically, this amendment would prohibit the state government from banning abortions prior to “fetal viability.” The meaning of this term was a source of contention in the lead up to the campaign. Additionally, an abortion could occur at any time if a healthcare professional of any type said that it was medically necessary. 3 5
Defend Life Montana was one of three registered groups in opposition to the amendment, spending $21,495 of the $184,232 total spent by the opposition. In contrast, the pro-amendment groups spent over $17 million to pass the amendment. 6
Ultimately, the amendment was passed with roughly 57 percent of the vote in favor. 1
Finances
Defend Life Montana, like the other registered opposition groups, had relatively few resources compared to funding the pro-abortion campaigners received. The group ultimately spent $21,495 in cash and made an additional $2,450 in in-kind contributions opposing ballot initiative CI-128. 4
Organization Philosophy
Defend Life Montanna holds that life begins with conception and should end with a person’s natural death. It seeks to advance the defense of life by advocating against the loosening of abortion restrictions and by assisting other people who share this vision of life with training and other resources. 2 3
Defend Life does not express specific religious views but focused on mobilizing Christians to oppose amendment CI-128 to prevent a right to an abortion being added to the state constitution. 3
Projects and Initiatives
Defend Life Montanna came into existence to oppose the passage of amendment CI-128. It did this by mobilizing religious voters, specifically by promoting the work of the two Roman Catholic dioceses in Montana, and by spreading an open letter signed by Protestant pastors opposing the measure. The letter was hosted by the Montana Family Foundation, which was the largest funder of opposition to CI-128, spending $119,000 to campaign against it. 2 3
A common theme of the group’s campaign was that voters were being misled by the pro-abortion campaign and were unaware of the full implications of the amendment. Specifically, the group argued that the language effectively permitted unlimited abortion in Montana at any stage of pregnancy as long as any type of healthcare professional stated that it was medically necessary. It also argued that there would be an increase in taxpayer funding of abortions, that parents would not be required to consent or even be informed if their daughters sought an abortion, and that sex traffickers and abusers would be sheltered from prosecution if they forced a victim to undergo an abortion. 2 5
In addition to providing online literature and resources, the group spent most of its funding on various ad campaigns to oppose the amendment.7
References
- Silvers, Mara. “Voters Endorse Montana’s Abortion Rights Measure.” Montana Free Press, November 6, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025. http://montanafreepress.org/2024/11/06/montanas-abortion-rights-measure-surges-to-victory/.
- “Home.” Defend Life MT. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://defendlifemt.com/.
- “CI-128.” CI-128 – Defend Life MT. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://defendlifemt.com/ci-128/.
- “Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024).” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_CI-128,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024).
- “The-Truth-about-CI-128.” Defend Life MT. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://defendlifemt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-Truth-about-CI-128.pdf.
- “ Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024).” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_CI-128,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024).
- “Committee Search Report: Defend Life.” Mt.gov, Accessed January 18, 2025. https://dataportal.mt.gov/t/DOASITSDIBMDBA/views/CommitteeReportSearch_P/CommitteeReportSearchDash?%3AshowAppBanner=false&%3Adisplay_count=n&%3AshowVizHome=n&%3Aorigin=viz_share_link&%3Aembed=yes&%3Alinktarget=_parent.