CALIFORNIA, MJP –
Over 50% of California residents voted against both rent control and an increase to an $18 minimum wage in the November 5 election. The final results will be available when the election is certified on Dec. 13.
California voters’ decision to reject both rent control and a minimum wage increase may reflect concerns over potential economic impacts on housing availability and small businesses.
If Proposition 33 – the Justice for Renters Act, had gone through, it would have allowed cities and counties to limit rent on any housing including single-family homes and housing built on or after February 1, 1995.
However, 61.6% of residents voted against it.
The California Apartment Association (CAA), argued that repealing California’s foundational rental housing law would discourage rental housing construction and drive housing providers out of the market.
The association raised $124 million to campaign against the measure.
Minimum wage increase
Proposition 32, a ballot measure that would have raised California’s minimum wage to $18 an hour in 2025 for employers of more than 25 people and in 2026 for others, so far has been rejected with 52% of Californians voting no.
Minimum Wage Hike: Florida Set to Implement $13 Per Hour Pay from September 30
Opponents of the bill include the California Grocers Association, the Agricultural Council of California, and the California Restaurant Association who argued that the measure would have increased costs on family-owned businesses that can least afford it.
They said it would force small employers to increase prices for consumers to absorb the higher minimum wage.
Election results for other ballot measures
According to the Secretary of State website, election results will change throughout the ballot counting canvass period as vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots (including conditional voter registration provisional ballots), and other ballots are tallied.
