Californians, who have historically supported efforts to raise the minimum wage, were not swayed this time around.After two weeks of postelection uncertainty, Proposition 32, the initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour,

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

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.

Prop 32, which would have brought the state’s minimum wage up to $18 per hour, was the first minimum-wage measure to lose at the ballot in almost three decades.

A majority of Californians voted against Proposition 32, which would have raised the state's minimum wage to $18, the Associated Press projected Tuesday.

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,

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

The California Restaurant Association, California Chamber of Commerce, and California Grocers Association oppose the minimum wage increase. They argue that Proposition 32 would compel small businesses to hike prices, contributing to inflation and elevated living costs, ultimately harming working families.

The US states that will raise their minimum wages starting January 1, 2025 are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, South Dakota, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

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