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Kansas citizens voted overwhelmingly in support for abortion rights.

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, multiple states, particularly in the American south, have had their abortion rights contested, either by preexisting trigger laws or rushed legislation. One of those states is Kansas, a primarily right-leaning state that, earlier this week, held a vote to determine whether to ban abortion or not.

In a surprise upset, however, the denizens of the state voted overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining abortion protections, securing 58.9% of the vote. The vote showcased a major turnout of voters on both sides of the political aisle, solidifying abortion safety as a major landmark issue.

“As the first state to vote on abortion rights following the fall of Roe v. Wade, Kansas is a model for a path to restoring reproductive rights across the country through direct democracy,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “We know that Kansas will not be our last fight, or our last victory.”

Tonight, Kansans used their voices to protect women’s right to choose and access reproductive health care.

It’s an important victory for Kansas, but also for every American who believes that women should be able to make their own health decisions without government interference.

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 3, 2022

“We already knew that the majority of Americans support abortion rights, but last night’s results in Kansas showed us that it’s also a motivating factor for voters,” Xochitl Hinojosa, managing director at progressive consulting firm Bully Pulpit Interactive, told CNN. “We’ll likely see more Democratic candidates learn from Kansas and lean in on the threat and urgency of abortion bans across the country and start communicating that directly to voters.”