771 - Peace & Life: Mass Commutation/Mass. Petition/Right to Redress - November 13, 2026
Good News! California Death Sentences Commuted
The governor is finishing out his term, which had a moratorium on actual executions throughout.
While we obviously admire his stand against capital punishment, we point out the principle would be more effectively communicated if he were consistent about opposing other socially approved killing -- abortion and euthanasia -- as well.
Good and Bad News – Success Blocked
The Massachusetts legislature had passed a bill to get rid of regulations of third-trimester abortions. The good news is that a petition drive to put a repeal on the ballot was successful, turning in 113,000 signatures on the November 6 deadline. Less than half that number was needed to suspend the law until the 2028 vote.
Bad news: Gov. Healy filed an “emergency preamble.” That forces the law to take effect immediately, bypassing the suspension, on the grounds that she sees facilitating third-trimester abortions as an emergency. See updates here.
Courts could in theory invalidate this, but it’s considered unlikely. At least the 2028 vote is still on track.
Overview of Referendums
On abortion, we expected the losses in Nevada and Virginia. In Missouri, we lost; see our blog post commenting on why.
But in Idaho, we won, and won solidly. On overturning the state’s abortion ban, 44.7% yes and 55.3% no. So abortion didn't have a blow-out night against us on the four referendums. Also, we won the Sanctuary City for the Unborn in Seminole, Texas.
This may well be the last of the post-Dobbs backlash elections, as the energy for those is predictably dissipating.
On the other measures we were following: we’re pleased Massachusetts kept its gun safety law which includes war-like guns, and that Colorado rejected an attempt to require local police to turn arrestees in to ICE. Unfortunately, Arizona voted to account drug trafficking as a form of terrorism, thus allowing war-like tactics. Also, Oklahoma turned down a minimum wage increase.
Come January, we head into the 2027-2028 election cycle. Odd-numbered years normally have very few referendums, but 2028 should have many. Developments leading up to them will be tracked throughout 2027. We already have one – the Massachusetts measure mentioned above.
Right to Redress – Coerced Abortions
The Planned Parenthood affiliate that includes Minnesota and South Dakota has had a lawsuit just filed against them, September 14, 2026: Boyer and KPS v. Planned Parenthood. This is aspiring to be a class action lawsuit against the affiliate on behalf of women who were coerced into unwanted abortions. Other stories of this happening are cited, along with the two main plaintiffs. If it does well, it may serve as a role model for lawsuits against other affiliates and abortion facilities.
This is a “right to redress” approach, which we cover in our referendums project website: Future Referendum Ideas.
Latest on the Blog
As the first in a planned series on opposition to nuclear weapons within different religions, John Whitehead offers: “A Chain Reaction of Spiritual Atoms”: Buddhist Opposition to Nuclear Weapons
Rachel MacNair has some Thoughts on the 2026 U.S. Mid-Terms.
Quote of the Week
Richard Stith, CLN Board of Directors member
Facebook post, November 6, 2026
Politics is only a means to our end. We should be always focused on the end of saving lives, not on the means of winning political victories. And if we focus on our end, we can still be of good cheer: Every child born whole is a victory for life.
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