In state, voters affirm abortion rights, reject gambling

No betting on sports games — either in tribal casinos or via online apps. And no tax hikes to pay for electric cars.

But California will enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, uphold a ban on flavored tobacco and increase funding for arts education in public schools.

Those are the practical effects of several statewide ballot measures that voters approved or rejected in Tuesday’s election, according to early returns. Voters decided the fate of seven statewide ballot measures this year, notably less than recent election cycles.

That said, fewer ballot measures hasn’t meant less controversy. More than half of the measures failed: Voters reject ed two rival propositions on sports gambling and another dealing with funding for electric cars.

Propositions were the focal point of negative ads and spending this cycle given a dearth of competitive candidate races. Here are the unofficial results of each measure on the statewide ballot:

Prop. 1 Abortion rights in the state Constitution

Voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 1, which enshrines the rights to abortions and birth control in the California Constitution. T he measure led 68% to 32%. State legislators placed the measure on the ballot in June, after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights by overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

While abortion is still legal under California law, state legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom argued Prop. 1 is needed to protect those rights in case the federal government passes national abortion restrictions. Supporters hope a wide margin of victory could send a strong, pro-choice message across the country.

One factor that could temper abortion advocates’ celebration: Republicans in Congress have proposed a national abortion ban — which, if enacted, could override California law.

Prop. 26

Sports betting at tribal casinos

Voters easily rejected Prop. 26, which would have allowed sports betting at Native American tribal casinos and the state’s four horse racing tracks. The measure trailed 70% to 29%. It would have also authorized tribes to offer roulette and games played with dice, like craps, at their casinos.

Prop. 26 was at the center of a blistering turf battle between tribal communities and online gaming companies that sponsored a competing measure to allow widespread sports wagering in the state.

Prop. 27 Online sports betting

Voters also defeated Prop. 27, which would have allowed gamblers to bet on sports as well as award shows and video game competitions from anywhere in California. The measure trailed 84% to 16%. Online gaming companies like Fanduel and Draftkings could only have entered the market if they partnered with a California Native America tribe.

While both Props. 26 and 27 died at the ballot box, voters will likely see an online sports betting measure again in 2024, as DraftKings’ CEO recently suggested.

Prop. 28

Arts education in schools

Voters easily approved Prop. 28, which increases how much California spends on arts and music education in K-12 public schools. The measure led 63% to 37%. It requires the state to increase funding for such programs by about $1 billion starting next year.

Proponents argued arts education helps students with cognitive development and spatial learning, and improves school attendance. The measure had no formal opposition.

Prop. 29

Kidney dialysis clinic regulations

Voters defeated Prop. 29, which w ould have tightened regulations on kidney dialysis clinics, by a wide margin. The measure trailed 70% to 30%. It’s the third time, since 2018, that such a measure has failed. This year’s version would have required that a licensed physician, registered nurse or physician assistant be on site during all of a clinic’s treatment hours.

Supporters, led by a union representing medical workers, argued it would make clinics safer. Opponents, funded by dialysis clinics, said it was a unionization effort masquerading as a safety measure.

Prop. 30 Funding for electric cars

Voters rejected Prop. 30, which would have funded programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was trailing significantly. The measure, the only toss-up proposition on the state ballot heading into Election Day, trailed 57% to 43%.

It would have increased income taxes on wealthy people and require the state to use the money on electric vehicle rebates and infrastructure, as well as wildfire prevention programs. If approved, taxes would increase by 1.75% on income above $2 million.

Supporters, bankrolled by ridehailing company Lyft, argued the state needs to electric cars to help stave off the worst impacts of climate change. But opponents, including Newsom and the California Teachers Association, called the measure a self-interested ploy to get taxpayers to cover Lyft’s cost to move its fleet to electric cars.

Prop. 31

Ban on flavored tobacco products

Voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 31, which bans flavored tobacco products. The measure led 65% to 35%. S tate legislators and Newsom passed the ban in 2020, but the tobacco industry gathered signatures to force a voter referendum. The ban applies to most flavored tobacco, with exceptions for handmade cigars that cost at least $12, loose leaf tobacco and shisha tobacco sold by licensed hookah retailers.