The election has come and gone, and now it’s time to analyze the results. Family Research Council has analyzed the 11 abortion-related ballot initiatives in 10 states that Americans voted on during Tuesday’s election. Although pro-lifers are mourning the seven states that voted to enshrine abortion in their state’s constitutions, they’re also emphasizing the fact that the three states that voted to protect the unborn deserve recognition and celebration.

The Washington Stand’s Dan Hart previously reported on Florida’s pro-abortion Amendment 4 and how it failed to pass. “The ballot initiative failed despite immense funding from pro-abortion activists, who poured over $85 million toward advertisements and campaigns in favor of the measure,” Hart wrote. “The initiative fell short of the 60% threshold needed for passage on Tuesday night, garnering around 57% of the vote, while votes against the measure amounted to roughly 43%. The amendment’s failure leaves in place Florida’s six-week pro-life protections.”

Two other states also voted in favor of life, and those two states are South Dakota and Nebraska. In South Dakota, Amendment G, also referred to as the “Right to Abortion Initiative,” would have stripped the state’s pro-life provisions by including abortion in the state constitution, opening the door to increased sex trafficking, taxpayer-funded abortions, and more. But on Tuesday, South Dakotans voted no on these changes, which means the state’s current laws that protect children throughout the entire pregnancy are still in place, as well as the ability to use medical intervention when necessary to save the life of the mother in emergency situations.

Turning to Nebraska, the state faced two ballot measures — Initiative 434, also known as the “Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment,” and Initiative 439, the “Protect Our Rights” measure. Out of the two, only one passed, which means abortion is still legal in the first trimester. However, because Initiative 434 passed, life is protected in Nebraska in the second or third trimesters.

Many in the pro-life movement are celebrating the wins, including Mary Szoch, director of FRC’s Center for Human Dignity. “In Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota pro-lifers showed up and defended the unborn,” she told The Washington Stand. “Strong leadership from governors in these states leaned into the pro-life message and pointed out that these ballot initiatives were an effort to enshrine abortion until birth in the state constitution.” Ultimately, Szoch emphasized, “The people of these states rejected these efforts. Praise God!”

However, Szoch addressed where the pro-life movement did not see success in this election. “[I]n seven states across the country,” she lamented, “voters supported enshrining abortion until birth in their state constitutions.” Szoch noted that she lives in one of those states, Maryland. “Clearly, the pro-life movement has work to do” to ensure that the message is clear that “every unborn child has value from the moment of fertilization,” she acknowledged. But when it comes to change, she urged that “a little more education and strong leadership — a little more work to change hearts — could bring the state back to a position of protecting life.”

On Tuesday, “Americans … re-elected the most pro-life president in the history of America,” Szoch stated. “Now is the time for us to work together to promote strong, faith-filled marriages, strengthen families, and create a society that values every single person from the moment they come into existence. The opportunity to build a culture of life in America is great, and we cannot waste it.”

Moving forward, Szoch encouraged pro-lifers to “have the tough conversations with our neighbors and elected officials. We must demonstrate the beautiful gift of every baby — not just the ones who are planned or ‘wanted.’” Most importantly, Szoch concluded, “We must work to change — not just policies — but hearts and minds. This begins with leading people to Christ and building trust in God’s plan for the future.”