Other Group

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights

Location:

Helena, MT

Type:

Pro-abortion Ballot Initiative Committee

Formation:

2024

Treasurer:

Tara Veazey

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Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights was the ballot initiative committee formed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana and funded by several large left-of-center institutions and activists in order to enshrine a right to abortion in the Montana state constitution. The group, raised over $17 million in funding for the referendum campaign on ballot initiative CI-128 and succeeded in passing the amendment into law in that November’s election. 1 2 3

Founding and History

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights was formed in 2024 to instigate and secure the passage of ballot initiative CI-128, which changed the Montana state constitution to expressly enumerate a right to an abortion. The committee and the ensuing activist campaign was led by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montanna. 2 1

The petition drive to secure the amendment on the ballot gathered 117,000 signatures, a record for Montanan ballot initiatives. This signature drive gathered these signatures from every country in Montana and succeeded in securing signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters in at least 40 state house districts. 2

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights instigated the ballot initiative, and upon securing enough signatures was the main group campaigning for the passage of the amendment. It spent over $17 million to promote the amendment in contrast to the $184,232 in total spent by all opposition groups combined. 1

The amendment was passed with roughly 57 percent of the vote in favor. 3

Finances

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights received $17,171,243.60 in contributions and spent $17,039,119.82 on its campaign to add CI-128 to the ballot and then to pass the referendum. In contrast to the opposition, the group received numerous large donations from prominent left-of-center groups. 1

These donations included $3 million from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, $3 million from the Advocacy Action Fund, $2.62 million from the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund Montanna, $1.255 million from The Fairness Project, and $1 million from left-of-center heiress Gwendolyn Sontheim. 1

Organization Philosophy

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights based its campaign on claims that CI-128 was necessary to protect what it considers to be fundamental rights. The campaign’s surrogates highlighted several claims for the necessity of abortion including arguments for bodily autonomy and the necessity of abortions in proper health care. 4

The group promoted media that claimed that without abortion access, women are unable to receive lifesaving medical care in the event of an ectopic pregnancy, and claims by doctors that the amendment was necessary to protect the private relationship between doctors and patients, and to prevent interference with medical provider judgement. 5

Projects and Initiatives

Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights was responsible for the signature campaign that resulted in CI-128 appearing on the ballot. In addition to the campaign to secure the necessary signatures, the group also spent on an advertising campaign in print, online, tv, and radio. 1 2

The campaign organized volunteer activism and literature drives via the generally left-of-center volunteer mobilization platform Mobilize. 6

References

  1. “Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024).” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_CI-128,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024).
  2. Edelman, Adam, and Lindsey Pipia. “Montana Organizers Collect Enough Signatures to Advance Abortion Rights Ballot Measure.” NBC News, June 21, 2024. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/montana-abortion-ballot-measure-signatures-rcna158016
  3. 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/
  4. Miller, Blair. “More than 250 Montana Medical Professionals Sign Letter Supporting CI-128 • Daily Montanan.” Daily Montanan, October 17, 2024. Accessed January 20, 2025.  https://dailymontanan.com/2024/10/17/more-than-250-montana-medical-professionals-sign-letter-supporting-ci-128/.
  5. Twitter. “Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights [@mtreprorights].” X.com, September 10, 2024. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://x.com/mtreprorights/status/1833538325355106361.
  6. “Election Day Literature Drop · Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights.” Mobilize. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.mobilize.us/mtreprorights/event/726677/.
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Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights

PO Box 1047
Helena, MT 59624