The 2026 Midterm Wins You May Have Missed

The 2026 midterm elections led to numerous changes across the country, with headlines primarily focusing on who gained seats in Congress and state legislatures.

But these headlines only tell part of the story. In several states, voters also cast their ballots to uphold some of our most important values like the dignity of unborn life, fairness for girls and women in sports, and the protection of children.

Those results offer real reasons for encouragement.

Idaho voters reject a new abortion “right”

Idaho voters turned down Proposition 1, a measure that would have established a statutory right to abortion.

The vote came just weeks after a federal district court did something no other court has done since Dobbs: It ruled that the U.S. Constitution protects a right to abortion. In Seyb v. Labrador, the court held in August that Idaho cannot enforce its democratically enacted pro-life laws when abortion doctors decide—in their personal judgment—what maternal, mental, and physical health risks are sufficient to terminate a baby.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and Alliance Defending Freedom immediately asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to step in. Thankfully, it did so on October 30, ruling that Idaho may continue enforcing its laws protecting unborn children and their mothers while the appeal moves forward.

So, in a matter of weeks, a federal judge announced a new federal constitutional right overriding Idaho’s laws, and Idahoans voted to preserve those same pro-life laws. The appeal in Seyb is ongoing, and ADF will keep defending Idaho’s authority to protect life. But Tuesday’s result is a clear signal of where Idahoans stand.

And they—rightfully—stand with each and every beautiful, unborn child lovingly created in God’s image.

Girls’ sports are for girls—and voters agree

If there was one issue on Tuesday’s ballots that cut across party lines, it was this: Men do not belong in women’s sports.

• Two-thirds of Nebraska voters passed Initiative 442, enshrining protections for women’s sports in the state constitution.
• Washington voters passed Initiative 638, protecting fairness on the playing field for girls in K-12 education, by a 13% margin.
• In Colorado, Proposition 134 also passed, ensuring that K-12 and college female athletes are not forced to compete against males.
• Arizona voters approved Proposition 318, which expanded its existing women’s sports law to cover all schools and to protect privacy in locker rooms and restrooms.

The voters are making their voices loud and clear.

The results line up with what Americans have been saying for some time. A January 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll found that 79% of Americans believe male athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports, including 67% of Democrats.

The reasons are not hard to see. Girls train for years, follow every rule, and deserve a fair shot at the podium. When male athletes take roster spots, records, and championship titles, girls lose opportunities they earned. Voters understand that fairness, and they acted on it.

ADF worked with several state lawmakers to help craft pro-girls’ sports laws like these, because commonsense protections should be written plainly and built to last. With Tuesday’s victories, 29 states now preserve the integrity of women’s sports.

Our work continues in the courts, too, including before the Supreme Court. But Tuesday was a reminder that Americans want to keep women’s sports for women. The people of Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington state all took a stand for biological reality and made their voices clear: Girls deserve to compete on a safe and fair playing field. When we reject truth, the harm is real, widespread, and devastating.

More protections for children

Colorado voters also gave supporters of truth and freedom reasons for encouragement.

In Colorado, voters enacted Proposition 135, which protects children from harmful and irreversible “gender transition” surgeries. It passed with 52% of the vote. Colorado has joined the growing number of states that recognize a simple truth: Children should not undergo permanent, life-altering procedures based on the lies of gender ideology.

Twenty-seven other states have already taken bold action to safeguard vulnerable children from these dangerous procedures. But there is still more work to be done so that no child is ever pushed down the path of radical gender ideology.

A return to prayer and civic virtue

Meanwhile, in Alabama, voters approved Amendment 3, which directs local school boards to adopt two policies. The first calls for the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited in public schools each school day. The second allows voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer.

Policies like these help promote a sense of patriotism and honor the profound role faith plays in each student’s life.

The work continues

Not every ballot measure went the way we would have hoped, but the encouraging results are real too, and they are worth celebrating.

The work doesn’t stop with Election Day. ADF will keep defending a state’s right to protect unborn children and their mothers. We will keep working with lawmakers on laws that protect women and girls. And we will keep standing up for anyone who is silenced, penalized, or pushed out for living by their convictions.

Ballot boxes and courtrooms both matter. On Tuesday, many voters showed up for truth. We’ll keep showing up, too.