CA’s 10 Propositions: What Failed, What Passed And What’s In Limbo

CALIFORNIA — California voters cast their votes Tuesday on 10 different propositions, including questions about raising the minimum wage, rent control, and billions of dollars in bonds.

While the wait still wasn't over for several measures as of mid-day Thursday, the Associated Press and other media outlets had called over half the races by that time.

(Scroll down for real-time results)

The first measure that passed, around 11 p.m. Tuesday, was the most hot-button issue on the proposition list — Prop. 36, the state's controversial tough-on-crime measure to make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for some drug charges, including those involving fentanyl.

“It was clear to us in the last year that this is desperately needed for Californians,” said Anne Marie Schubert, co-chair of the coalition supporting the measure. “This is a resounding message that Californians are ready to have safer communities.”

The measure will partially roll back a progressive law passed by voters in 2014 that lowered many nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors. The measure's passage marks a widespread frustration in California that the state's district attorneys have been too soft on crime.

“Voters wanted solutions, but they were sold a false promise,” said Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, which co-authored the 2014 law. “With this initiative passing and potentially threatening hundreds of millions of dollars to stabilize those programs, we’re going to be a lot worse off than we were before.”

Its passage could significantly increase prison time and up the state's prison population. It specifically increases penalties related to mob smash-and-grab retail thefts and fentanyl possession.

Prop. 3, the right-to-marry measure, passed late Tuesday and was called by CalMatters. Less than 20 years after Californians passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, voters opted Tuesday to wipe it off the books with another amendment enshrining the right to marry regardless of sex or race in the state constitution, according to Cal Matters, citing an Associated Press race call. ABC News also called the race.

Prop. 4 was approved by voters, according to the Associated Press on Wednesday morning. The measure will borrow $10 billion for various climate programs, the state’s largest investment to date in fighting climate change.

The largest chunk of the money, $3.8 billion, will go to improving drinking water systems and preparing for droughts and floods. Wildfire preparedness programs will get $1.5 billion, while $1.2 billion will be targeted to combating sea-level rise.

"Californians are taking charge, choosing to invest in climate solutions now to protect us from fires and floods, build a more resilient future, and preserve the iconic California resources that make our state special,” Liz Forsburg Pardi, California policy director at the Nature Conservancy, said in a statement.

Another $10 billion bond question, Prop. 2, was called by the Associated Press on Wednesday evening, according to CalMatters and the Los Angeles Times.

The bulk of the money, 85 percent, will be earmarked for the state's 10,000 TK-12 schools, including charter schools. The state's 115 community colleges will be eligible for the remainder, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

The $10 billion bond will cost the state $500 million annually for 35 years. The debt will be paid out of the general fund. There is no tax hike associated with the measure.

Prop. 35 also passed, according to the Associated Press. The measure creates a permanent tax on certain health care plans and requires that the money go toward Medi-Cal.

Click here to track your ballot and make sure it was counted.

While the world turned its attention to the presidential election and who would win control of Congress on Nov. 5, Californians took on weighty issues from same-sex marriage to climate change to criminal justice reform and affordable housing. Not every state allows for this most direct form of democratic governance, and no state does it like the Golden State — ambitious in scope and high in price tag.

Patch has you covered with an examination of what each statewide measure on the Nov. 5 ballot sought to do as well as the arguments for and against them, who supported them, who fought them and how much money is being spent on each proposition.

Explore the links below for live results and a deep dive into each measure.

Statewide Propositions on the Nov. 5 Ballot:

Voters Approve $10 Billion School Bonds; AP Calls Race, Sources Say

Voters decided whether to approve $10 billion in new borrowing for public school construction and renovations.

Right To Marriage Amendment Passes: Multiple Outlets Call Prop 3

Prop 3 replaced a ban on same-sex marriage in the state Constitution with language declaring the right to marry is fundamental.

$10 Billion Climate Bond Approved By Voters: Prop 4 Results

Proposition 4 will issue $10 billion in bonds for various climate and environmental projects.

Voters Oppose Local Bond Measure In Early Prop 5 Results

Proposition 5 would lower the voter approval threshold for local bond measures that fund affordable housing and infrastructure projects.

Voters Lean Toward Keeping Forced Prison Labor In Early Prop 6 Results

Proposition 6 would amend the state Constitution to ban involuntary servitude, which is currently permitted as punishment for crime.

Voters Divided On Raising Minimum Wage, Early Prop 32 Results Show

A ballot measure seeks to raise the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2026, with inflation-based increases each year after that.

Voters Reject 2024 Rent Control Expansion Measure Prop 33

Proposition 33 would have rolled back state restrictions that prevent cities from limiting rent increases.

Voters Split On Drug Revenue Spending Measure: Early Prop 34 Results

Proposition 34 would require certain low-income health providers to spend 98 percent of their pharmaceutical profits on "direct patient care."

CA Prop. 35 Passes: Permanent Managed Care Tax For Medi-Cal Funds

Prop. 35 will make permanent a tax on health insurance companies and require that the revenue be spent on Medi-Cal care.

AP Calls CA Prop 36: Tougher Drug, Theft Penalties Approved By Voters

Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, will increase sentences for drug and theft crimes.

Real-time results are below — use the scroll on the right and the "Jump to contest/measure" drop boxes to select the race of your choice. Patch will be updating the results throughout the night as votes are tallied — refresh the page for the latest updates.