The abortion rights position has won on the ballot in 7 out of 7 states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in mid-2022 — even in red-leaning ones such as Kansas, Kentucky, Montana and Ohio.
Florida
Analysis | Arizona and Florida could send a big message on abortion rights
The polling, from CBS News and YouGov, shows striking margins in Arizona and Florida for enshrining abortion rights into those states’ constitutions. That position leads 65 percent to 21 percent in Arizona and 60 percent to 20 percent in Florida. Previous polling in Florida also showed voters favoring the abortion rights amendment by wide margins — by 21 points in one poll and by 30 points in another.
Florida’s measure will be on the ballot; Arizona’s is still a work in progress, but organizers say they have more than enough signatures to get it there. Other states will feature such measures, but Arizona and Florida are the big ones.
The newest polling shows not only that voters overwhelmingly favor the amendments, but even Republicans lean in favor of them — 43-38 in Arizona and 43-34 in Florida.
That 60 percent overall number in Florida is notable because that’s the threshold for passage in the state — a higher bar than the one for most states.
It’s also notable because it suggests the potential for an even more resounding affirmation of abortion rights.
While abortion rights positions have won plenty of votes from Republican-leaning voters, they have done so to varying degrees. A good way to look at this is how they have performed relative to the 2020 presidential vote.
The best relative performance for an abortion rights amendment thus far? The most recent one. In Ohio last year, it over-performed Biden’s 2020 vote share by 11.6 points. Biden got 45 percent in 2020, but the abortion rights amendment got 57 percent.
The average overperformance across the four states: eight points.
The new Arizona and Florida polls already show support for the amendments outpacing Biden’s 2020 share in those states by 16 points and 12 points, respectively — even with a fair number of undecided voters.
There have been states where the abortion rights position over-performed Biden by more than it did in the four states above: Kansas, Kentucky and Montana. But importantly, those states weren’t voting directly on enshrining abortion rights.
Montana’s measure was narrowly about infants born after failed abortions. Kansas’s and Kentucky’s measures asked voters to affirmatively state that the state constitution didn’t protect abortion rights. In those last two states, the measures over-performed Biden by 17 and 16 points, respectively — the biggest overperformances to date.
And that could be instructive.
These were situations in which voters were effectively being asked not to add a right, but to foreclose one.
Indeed, what could set Arizona and Florida apart from the four states that have previously voted to enshrine abortion rights is how much those rights have been curtailed in those states.
The Florida Supreme Court last month greenlit the state’s six-week abortion ban, which even former president Donald Trump has sought to distance himself from. Then the Arizona Supreme Court last month revived a harsh 1864 law that banned nearly all abortions — even in the cases of rape and incest — and made providing one punishable by two to five years in prison. (This set off a panic in GOP circles which eventually led to the law’s repeal. A 15-week ban remains in place.)
This has set up a situation in which voters could effectively view the abortion rights amendments as referendums on the harsh GOP-backed laws and an opportunity to register their discontent. The same YouGov poll, for instance, shows 72 percent of Arizona voters approve of overturning the 1864 law.
Or, at the very least, the stakes of allowing their representatives to restrict abortion rights could be more real to them than to voters in California, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio, where similar laws weren’t in play.
It’s that dynamic that makes these potentially resounding votes in Florida and Arizona particularly important for the future of abortion rights in America.
Florida
Florida leaders react to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death, remembering his legacy of public service
Florida elected officials from both chambers of Congress, along with the state’s two U.S. senators, are mourning the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, praising his decades of military service, national security work and bipartisan efforts on immigration.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott called Graham “a good friend and a dedicated public servant,” saying he and his wife, Anne, were “shocked and heartbroken” by the news.
“Lindsey was a good friend and a dedicated public servant for the people of South Carolina and the United States,” Scott said. “Through his time in the Air Force and in Congress, Lindsey dedicated his career to America’s national defense and freedom around the world. I was grateful to work with him. He will be greatly missed as a legislator and a friend.”
Florida’s other Republican senator, Ashley Moody, also honored Graham, describing him as a uniquely gifted communicator and lawmaker.
“My family and I mourn the sudden passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham,” Moody said. “There are people in this world who have the ability to change the air in a room through wit, humor, well-placed arguments, reason, or impassioned appeals. Lindsey Graham had the uncanny ability to pull them all off at once.”
South Florida lawmakers also reflected on Graham’s influence.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez said Graham leaves behind “a legacy of dedicated public service, a commitment to national security, and an unwavering fight for freedom.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar highlighted Graham’s years-long work on immigration reform, noting he played a key role in discussions surrounding bipartisan immigration proposals, including the DIGNITY Act of 2025.
“Few people in Washington fought longer or harder to fix our broken immigration system than Lindsey Graham,” Salazar said, adding that she was grateful for his counsel and commitment to finding a legislative solution.
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for Florida governor, said Graham dedicated his life to serving the country both in the U.S. Air Force and in Congress.
“He was an incredibly effective lawmaker who always led with courage and deep conviction,” Donalds said. “He always did what he thought was right even if it wasn’t popular, leaving behind a massive legacy of leadership that won’t be forgotten.”
Miami-Dade’s tax collector honored Sen. Lindsey Graham, praising his steadfast support for freedom, democracy, and human rights, especially for his outspoken stance against Cuba’s communist dictatorship. The tribute, shared in both English and Spanish, thanked Graham for his leadership, his hope-inspiring words, and his unwavering commitment to liberty, saying his voice gave hope to millions dreaming of a free Cuba.
Graham served in the U.S. Senate for more than two decades after representing South Carolina in the U.S. House. Throughout his career, he became one of the Senate’s most influential voices on national security, foreign policy and immigration.
His death prompted an outpouring of condolences from lawmakers across the country, including many in Florida who worked alongside him on defense, immigration and other legislative priorities.
Florida
Forget Florida, Retire To This East Coast City With River Views, Festivals, And Endless Outdoor Fun – Islands
Most retirees clock out of their last day at work, grab their suitcases, and book a one-way flight to a place like Florida that has warm weather year-round. Yet, just along the U.S.-Canada border, a different lifestyle awaits — one that includes all four seasons, river views, and community-involved events. Welcome to Caribou, Maine: the “Most Northeastern City in the U.S.”
The Aroostook River (as seen above) cuts through the middle of town, highlighting gorgeous waterfront views, dense foliage, and natural beauty that offers an ever-evolving backdrop with every season. From snowy Januarys to blooming Junes, retirees and visitors can stay active rather than just lie at the beach as many do in the Sunshine State.
Beyond the scenery, Caribou keeps a packed calendar of fun festivals running nearly year-round, from a winter wonderland carnival to weekly summer concerts downtown. In between events, it’s easy to fit in a daily walk on multi-use trails, kayak or canoe the river, or pick strawberries at a local farm. Caribou is a great alternative to consider for a family-friendly environment and small-town charm, especially for travelers (and retirees) who are looking to trade crowded beaches for quieter, closer-knit surroundings.
Fun festivals in Caribou, Maine
While Florida has beach towns that can pass for the Caribbean, one thing many retirees eventually miss is a sense of community. Caribou offers plenty of opportunities to connect with locals with a packed year-round calendar of events and festivals. The fun kicks off in February with the Winter Carnival and Snowmobile Festival, bringing everyone together in the heart of winter with races, bonfires, and fireworks. In summer, the Mi’kmaq Nation’s Mawiomi of Tribes brings traditional dancing and drumming to town, educating visitors on the Native American lifestyle through traditional meals, sunrise blessing ceremonies, and dancing.
Fall rounds things out with the Caribou Craft Fair, where roughly 140 artisans set up shop. The season wraps up with Oktoberfest, celebrating Bavarian heritage through craft beer brewing, live music, and delicious food. Finally, the city’s annual grand finale is Christmas in Caribou, showcasing detailed light displays, a Christmas tree lighting, and the charming Christmas Market. While these are all one-off events, the town ensures that locals and visitors are mingling often. Once the snow melts,”Thursdays on Sweden Street” shuts down the center of town for weekly live music, food vendors, and a beer garden.
A short drive out of town extends the calendar even further. New Sweden, about 15 minutes northwest, hosts the Swedish-heritage Midsommar Festival in June, while Fort Fairfield, a 14-minute drive southeast, throws the Potato Blossom Festival every July. Presque Isle, roughly 20 minutes out, adds the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, giving travelers a seasonal event that’s worth planning a trip around.
Things to do in Caribou, Maine
Caribou offers plenty of ground — and water — to cover for anyone craving variety in the great outdoors. The Aroostook River is a summer highway for paddlers, with canoes and kayaks a common sight. Anglers can fish from the shoreline with a single baited hook during the season, which runs from April 1 to September 30. A few miles away, Collins Pond Park’s 1.5-mile walking and biking path loops right along the water, with a playground on-site for visiting families with grandchildren.
For those wanting to cover more ground, the Aroostook Valley Trail is a 28-mile multi-use path connecting Caribou to nearby towns, popular for biking, walking, and snowmobiling depending on the season. Just outside town, at around 20 minutes by car, the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, dubbed Maine’s “green heart”, offers miles of trails for hiking, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing. Spectators can catch live music and races at the Spud Speedway Race Track and Event Center, and families can pick their own berries at McElwain’s Strawberry Farm.
To reach Caribou, visitors can fly into Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional Airport (PQI), a 20-minute drive south, or Bangor International Airport (BGR), about three hours away. A once-daily CYR Bus Line route connects Bangor, one of Maine’s lesser-known little cities, to Caribou directly for those skipping the rental car.
The Baltimore Orioles selected Florida signee Kevin Roberts Jr. with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB draft.
Roberts, UF’s top-ranked signee, is expected to forgo his college career and is the only member of Florida’s signing class to not enroll for the summer. A slot value of $711,800 is a bit low for a highly touted high school recruit, but it would be a big whiff by the Orioles if they don’t get him signed.
Perfect Game ranks Roberts No. 19 overall and No. 8 among shortstops nationally. Most of that is because he is incredibly projectable at 6-foot-5-inch and 220 pounds with good speed. There’s good bat speed and solid pop in his bat, showing exit velocities in the mid-90s as a 16-year-old. Roberts is also very young. He won’t turn 18 for another two weeks, giving pro teams extra time to develop him.
The power is there, but he’ll need to refine the contact tool a bit. Still, with plus speed and a strong arm — he clocked fastballs at 94 mph when pitching — Roberts figures to make an easy transition to center field.
Of course, it would have been nice for Florida to get Roberts on campus, but Florida has plenty of options in the outfield, and Brendan Lawson is returning at shortstop next season. If this is the only loss from Florida’s 2026 signing class, it’s a big win for Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators.
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