Abortion was on the ballot in five states—Michigan, Vermont, California, Kentucky, and Montana—and in all five states, voters rejected the pro-life position.

There’s no doubt about it—these election results are a serious gut punch to the pro-life movement. Following the reversal of Roe in June, pro-life advocates knew that the culture war over abortion policy was entering a new chapter as the debate shifted to state law.

The pro-life movement cheered for states that quickly moved to protect preborn human life and watched with anticipation as legal battles ensued.

This November, three states considered abortion-friendly ballot initiatives. In Michigan, Vermont and California, voters were asked whether they wanted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. And in all three cases, voters tragically said “yes.”

According to the New York Times, here are the results of those measures at the time of this article’s publication.

In Michigan, with 91% of the votes counted, the amendment which would create a state constitutional “right” to so-called reproductive freedom was ahead with 56.7% of the vote in support and 43.3% in opposition. This measure, like the others, goes far beyond Roe.

The safety of elections was on the ballot in seven states last night, as voters made decisions about early voting, allowing non-citizens to vote, voter identification requirements, and allowing outside groups to contribute to running elections. Here’s what we know about those ballot initiatives so far.

In Arizona, 66% of ballots have been counted, and Proposition 309 is losing in a close race, 50.7% to 49.3%. The measure would tighten election security and require dates of birth and voter identification numbers for mail-in ballots. Those who vote in person would need to present a driver’s license or a government-issued ID. We’re all waiting for Maricopa County to count those last 400,000 ballots.

In Alabama, Amendment 4 will pass, as voters currently approve the measure by a large margin of almost 80% to 20%, with 72% of votes counted. The constitutional amendment prohibits changes to election laws within six months of a general election, helping increase election integrity in the state.

Connecticut’s Question 1 amends the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to provide by law for in-person early voting before an election. The measure was approved by voters by a vote of 60.4% to 39.6%. Early voting means voters sometimes choose before candidates have debated and before they have all the information about candidates, says election integrity expert Hans von Spakovsky. In this election, more than 47 million votes were cast by mail-in ballot or early in-person voting.

Sports, and especially college football in the fall and early winter, have often provided a welcome respite from the slings and arrows of life – including politics.

Some of yesterday’s midterm election results, especially five losses for life in California, Michigan, Montana, Kentucky, and Vermont, may be leaving you a bit disheartened and discouraged. After all, as we’ve long insisted, electoral outcomes matter because policy impacts people and families. And when it comes to the sanctity of life, the sober and difficult reality is that when certain people are elected, and specific initiatives fail, the lives of innocent children are put at greater risk.

But a historic mural long associated with one of the most iconic teams on the collegiate gridiron can also serve to encourage and remind us that God remains fully and completely in control of every detail, everywhere.

Back in the early 1960s, school officials at the University of Notre Dame were looking for something to put on their newly constructed high-rise Memorial Library. The university’s president, Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, was concerned the windowless side of the building would make the new structure look like a grain elevator. Enter Millard Sheets, a popular painter and architectural designer who was making a name for himself wrapping California banks in eye-catching murals and paintings. Hundreds of his works survive across the country.