On election night, it was no surprise that a solid majority of California voters chose Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris over former President Trump. But the results from the list of ballot measures told a more complicated story in a state known for its liberal leanings.

Voters overwhelmingly support a bill that would undo a decade of progressive criminal justice reform, and preliminary polling shows they are poised to reject measures such as raising the minimum wage and banning forced prison labor. It was shown that

Proposition 6, which bans “involuntary servitude” as punishment for crime, lost majority support in deep-blue California on Wednesday, despite being promoted by supporters as a way to end what they call modern-day slavery. lacked. similar measures It was scheduled to pass through Nevada.

California voters also rejected a bill that would have made it easier for cities to impose rent controls and pass municipal bond measures for affordable housing.

Some progressive voters in the state, where Democrats control the governor’s office and the Legislature, are stunned by the early results, but Republicans are seizing the moment as evidence that California is becoming more conservative. I caught it.

“A new day has begun in California,” said James Gallagher, Yuba City’s legislative Republican leader. social media posts Regarding election results. “Change has begun.”

But longtime observers of California elections took a more sober view of what the results say about the state’s political leanings.

Mark Baldassare, director of research at the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan think tank that conducts polls, said the explanation for the disruptive effort is that even if voters actually agree with the intent, it’s especially difficult to understand the policy. He said that could deter states accustomed to seeing the initiative from supporting the effort. Every year, there are a number of strange questions on the ballot, from kidney dialysis to condoms.

“The proposal is part of the ballot, there is no D and R, there is a yes and no,” Baldassare said. “Voters are considering this on an issue-by-issue basis. I don’t feel like that necessarily indicates a shift to the right. I think the default for voters is always ‘no.’ ”

Californians have traditionally defied the state’s liberal reputation when voting on ballot measures. They have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty in the past. In 2008, it passed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. (On Tuesday, Californians passed a bill stripping the last vestiges of Proposition 8 from the California Constitution and reaffirming what remains of same-sex marriage as a federal right.)

Baldassare said campaign messages are very helpful in voting strategies, and voters often weigh their decisions based in part on who is listed as supporters and opponents on ballot questions. Ta. In some cases, it can be complicated.

In the case of Proposition 33, backed by the California Democratic Party and repealing a law that prohibits local governments from regulating rents in some buildings, even rent control advocates fed up with the cost of living are wondering about its unintended consequences. expressed concern. measurement.

Prop. 33 has cost millions of dollars to debate, with opponents warning it could worsen California’s housing shortage. The coined term “revenge measure” was added to the ballot to target how the health care foundation, a major proponent of the rent control measure, would spend its proceeds.

Proponents of Prop. 6 argue that Prop. 6 is likely to fail not because voters support “slavery,” but because of growing concerns about public safety and how those concerns translate into prison reform. It highlights the potential implications for related policy measures. In addition to approving Proposition 36, which cracked down on criminal sentences for theft and fentanyl crimes, voters also ousted progressive prosecutors in Los Angeles County and the Bay Area.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is expected to run for governor in 2026 and position himself as a moderate among a crowded Democratic field, is wondering what the results mean before everyone is cast. I was reluctant to speculate. But he said he believes voters want a “course correction” on issues such as crime and the economy.

As Democrats across the country grapple with a potential Republican trifecta – control of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives – and consider what that means for the Democratic movement and the future of the country. , California politicians also need to undergo a background check. he said.

“Are we really listening to people or are we spending all our time telling them what to do?” Villaraigosa said.

But many California Democrats were undeterred by the vote and once again prepared to lead the resistance against Trump. They point to progressive-backed causes, such as historic climate bonds and measures to extend taxes to fund Medi-Cal, as evidence that California remains a liberal bastion in the Red Sea. pointed out.

Rep. Alex Lee (D-San Jose), chairman of the California Progressive Legislative Caucus, said he was disappointed with some of the vote results, but said he was disappointed in some of the vote results, but said he was disappointed in the “corporate and conservative special interest funds” spent on complex efforts. All of the above should be considered. before passing judgment on a state’s electors.

“Overall, California is still more progressive than a country where just over half of its voters voted for fascists,” Lee said, returning to the White House hours after Trump’s election.