A glimmer of hope in deep-red ND tonight!
Womens' rights have been under assault from two fronts in North Dakota this election cycle. Firstly, ND Measure 1 follows on the heels of a string of anti-abortion bills passed during the last legislative session. In short, Measure 1 is a "personhood amendment", placing in the state constitution the assertion that "life begins at conception." The measure's sponsor, District 35 senator Margaret Sitte, has made clear that the intention of the amendment is to challenge and overturn Roe v. Wade, backed by a heavy budget surplus coming from the oil boom of the last few years. Sitte had significant backing from the oil interests and from the Catholic League, a very powerful lobby in Bismarck. One highlight of Sitte's campaign has been her absurdly oversized yard signs.
With 268/427 precincts reporting, and more importantly, with left-leaning oases Fargo and Grand Forks yet to report, Measure 1 stands at 63% No, 36% yes. Even better, though; with 6/6 precincts in...Erin Oban (D) beats incumbent Margaret Sitte 56 to 43%!
Once again, common sense prevails in the armpit of our nation. 
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