Voters have rejected Prop. 32, which would have raised the state's minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, the highest in the U.S.

California voters reject ballot measure that would have raised state's minimum wage to a national high of $18 per hour

A California measure that would have raised the state’s minimum wage to $18 is projected by The Associated Press to lack the votes necessary to pass. Proposition 32 would have had employers reach an $18 minimum wage by Jan.

Opponents of a ballot initiative that would raise California’s minimum wage from $16 to $18 an hour are declaring victory. With 94% of the votes counted as of Tuesday, Yes on Proposition 32 was trailing by 245,

Californians are projected to vote against a minimum wage boost in the state, giving a “no” to Proposition 32, according to an Associated Press race call on Tuesday. Proposition 32 would have raised the minimum wage for any business with 26 or more employees to $17 an hour immediately – and

In the decade leading up to Proposition 32's placement on the ballot this year, California has doubled its minimum wage from $8 an hour to $16.

This proposition would immediately increase the rate to $17 an hour, and then to $18 an hour on Jan. 1, 2025, for workplaces with 26 or more employees. For smaller employers, the rate would increase to $17 on Jan. 1, 2025, and then to $18 on Jan. 1, 2026.

California voters have rejected a measure on the November ballot that would have raised the minimum wage for most workers to $18 an hour.

Foes of increasing the California minimum wage say voters have rejected the proposition, but supporters aren’t giving up yet.