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It Goes Too Far

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It Goes Too Far is a political action committee (PAC) that led the campaign opposing Arizona Proposition 139, an initiative on the November 2024 ballot that enshrined abortion in the state’s constitution. 1 The group says it had more than 500 volunteers engaged statewide in Arizona campaigning against the abortion ballot measure. 2 Arizona voters approved Proposition 139 with 61.6 percent of votes in favor. 3

The organization contended the amendment would allow abortion beyond viability, remove safety standards, lead to unrestricted abortions, keep parents out of the decision for minors, and establish an overly broad definition of health care professional who could provide an abortion or abortion pills. 4

Background

It Goes Too Far is a political action committee that led the campaign opposing Arizona Proposition 139, an initiative on the November 2024 state ballot that enshrined an absolute right to abortion in the state’s constitution. 3 The organization focused on convincing both pro-life and pro-choice voters that the ballot initiative was too extreme. 5

It Goes Too Far says it had more than 500 volunteers engaged statewide in Arizona campaigning against the abortion ballot measure. 2

Arizona voters approved Proposition 139 with 61.6 percent of the vote, while 38.39 percent voted against it. 3 After the loss in November 2024, It Goes Too Far PAC said the “fight against extreme abortion laws will continue.” 6

It Goes Too Far PAC insisted that most voters would have voted against the measure if they had known the truth that abortion was already legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks, and state law already protected miscarriage and late term crisis complications threatening the woman’s health. 6

The Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative advocacy group, backed the It Goes Too Far PAC and provided staff and $75,172.23 to the effort. 7 8

The ITGF campaign initially led a “Decline to Sign” campaign when the abortion advocates were having a signature drive. 7 As supporters of the abortion amendment gathered signatures to place on the November ballot, IGTF campaign volunteers showed up at signature gathering locations to educate voters about the dangers of the amendment. The It Goes Too Far campaign established a database to report where the pro-abortion amendment signature-gatherers were set up. The abortion advocates nevertheless gained more than enough signatures for the ballot.  9

During the campaign, It Goes Too Far argued that the post-viability physical and mental health exemptions in the amendment were so broad they would effectively allow abortions up to the point of birth. 10 11 The organization argued that parents would be shut out of their minor daughters’ abortion decisions. 3 12 It Goes Too Far stressed the amendment legalized late-term abortion beyond viability. 3

The group contends the amendment would remove safety requirements that included protecting girls and women from complications such as a perforated uterus or bowel, sepsis, infertility, and hemorrhaging, based on the ballot language that no regulation can “infringe on an individual’s [abortion] decision.” 13 14

It Goes Too Far also asserted that if the abortion amendment passed, it would open the door to force taxpayers to fund abortions. It would further endanger laws allowing healthcare professionals to opt out of participating in abortions as an exercise of conscience rights. 3

The organization argued that 90 percent of Arizona voters supported limits on abortion at 15 weeks or earlier, 60 percent opposed taxpayer funding for abortion, and 77 percent opposed forcing healthcare professionals to participate in abortion. 13

Leadership

Leisa Brug was the former campaign manager for the It Goes Too Far PAC. 15 6

Cindy Dahlgren has been a spokeswoman for It Goes Too Far. 3 Dahlgren is also a spokesperson for the Center for Arizona Policy, which has backed pro-life policies. 5

Olivia Escobedo has been a spokesperson for the It Goes Too Far campaign. 9

Joanna de la Cruz has been a spokesperson for the It Goes Too Far PAC. 4

Terry LaFrance has been a representative for the It Goes Too Far campaign. 2

Key supporters and surrogates of the campaign included Laureen Mount, the co-owner of MDS Communications. Mount and her husband were among the top donors. 9 Youssef Khalaf, CEO of both 100 Squared Financial and Data Orbital, was also involved in the campaign. 9

Financials

It Goes Too Far was heavily outspent by Proposition 139 supporters throughout the campaign. 16

It Goes Too Far raised a total of $1,357,980.67 in contributions opposing the 2024 ballot initiative. It made $1,194,731.26 in expenditures. 3

Arizona for Abortion Access, the political action committee advocating for the ballot measure, raised $36,041,279.99 and spent $36,040,875.85. 3

John Connelly donated $200,000 to the It Goes Too Far PAC to oppose the 2024 ballot measure. 3 8

David Lambert contributed $142,200 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 3 8

Center for Arizona Policy Action, the advocacy arm of the Center for Arizona Policy, gave $75,172.23 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 3 8

The DC London Group gave $65,000.00 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 3 8

Connie and Richard Luebke gave $50,000 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 8

Paavo Ensio gave $50,000 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 8

Laureen Mount contributed $65,000.00 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 3 8

Jonathan Mount donated $35,000.00 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 3 8

Services Group of America PAC contributed $30,000 to the It Goes Too Far PAC. 8

References

  1.   “Arizona Proposition 130.” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Proposition_139,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024)
  2.  Tabet, Alex and Edelman, Adam. “Battle over abortion heats up in Arizona — and could be on the 2024 ballot.” NBC News. March 1, 2024. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/battle-abortion-heats-arizona-2024-ballot-rcna141347
  3. “Arizona Proposition 130.” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Proposition_139,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024)
  4.  Lum, Justin and Wong, Kenneth. “2024 Arizona Election: When it comes to ballot measures, voters have some big choices to make in November.” Fox 10 Phoenix. July 30, 2024. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/2024-arizona-election-when-comes-ballot-measures-voters-have-some-big-choices-make-november
  5. Gomez, Gloria Rebecca.  “Backers of ballot measure to guarantee abortion rights say they’ve collected 500,000 signatures.” Arizona Mirror. April 2, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://azmirror.com/2024/04/02/backers-of-ballot-measure-to-guarantee-abortion-rights-say-theyve-collected-500000-signatures/
  6.  “It Goes Too Far.” Facebook. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/ItGoes2Far/
  7. Murphy, Tim. “Want to See How Fast the Politics of Abortion Are Changing? Pay Attention to Arizona.” Mother Jones. September 2024. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/arizona-abortion-ballot-measure/
  8. “It Goes Too Far.” Contributors. TransparencyUSA.org. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.transparencyusa.org/az/committee/it-goes-too-far-101468/contributors
  9. Murdock, Corinne. “Pro-Lifers Launch Campaign To Oppose Amendment Legalizing Abortion Up To Birth.” Arizona Free News. January 12, 2024. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://azfreenews.com/2024/01/pro-lifers-launch-campaign-to-oppose-amendment-legalizing-abortion-up-to-birth/
  10. Duda, Jeremy. “Advocates say criticism of abortion ballot measure is misleading.” Axios. May 13, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/05/13/abortion-ballot-viability-exemptions-debate-arizona
  11. Associated Press. “Arizona voters to decide on expanding abortion access months after facing a potential near-total ban.” KTAR. November 4, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://ktar.com/ap-new/arizona-voters-to-decide-on-expanding-abortion-access-months-after-facing-a-potential-near-total-ban/5623187/
  12. Tabet, Alex. “Arizona abortion rights amendment backers says they’ve gathered signatures needed for 2024 ballot.” NBC News. April 2, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/arizona-abortion-rights-amendment-backers-says-gathered-signatures-nee-rcna145922
  13. “The Law in Arizona.” It Goes Too Far. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.itgoestoofar.com/
  14. “How it goes too far.” It Goes Too Far. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.itgoestoofar.com/how-it-goes-too-far
  15. Arcand, Cameron. “’It Goes Too Far’: Counter campaign to Arizona abortion ballot initiative launches.” Center Square. January 15, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.myheraldreview.com/news/elections/it-goes-too-far-counter-campaign-to-arizona-abortion-ballot-initiative-launches/article_6bfdc550-b3dc-11ee-b0e8-4398afb2e69d.html
  16.  Etzel, Gabrielle. “Arizona abortion ballot measure passes, undoing 15-week restriction.” Washington Examiner. November 6, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/3219298/arizona-abortion-ballot-measure-passes-undoing-15-week-restriction/?utm_source=gazette.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=csg_news_feed
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