TOPEKA (AP) —Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal from abortion foes seeking to remake the state's top court.
The measure would have amended the state constitution to have Supreme Court justices elected rather than initially appointed by the governor.
Supporters pitched the measure to voters as increasing democracy, but their goal has been to move the court to the right so that it overturns a landmark 2019 decision declaring that the Kansas Constitution protects abortion rights. Voters soundly rejected a proposed amendment in 2022 that would have nullified that decision.
Conservatives also have been upset for at least 20 years over Supreme Court decisions forcing the Legislature to boost spending on public schools.
Advocates of abortion rights and public schools fought the amendment.