# California voters officially reject controversial billionaire tax in setback for progressive agenda

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/california-voters-officially-reject-controversial-billionaire-tax-in-setback-for-progressive-agenda/
- Published: 2026-11-10T03:14:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T04:24:59+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/09/us-news/california-voters-officially-reject-controversial-billionaire-tax-in-setback-for-progressive-agenda/
- Topics: Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- California voters rejected a proposed 5% billionaire tax.
- Proposition 40 lost by 52.8% to 47.2%.
- Union leaders may propose another tax measure in 2028.

## Summary

California voters rejected Proposition 40, a proposed one-off 5% tax on billionaires, in a defeat for supporters seeking new funding for public services. The result also leaves California without the measure’s proposed source of revenue for healthcare and education, while opponents argued it could harm the state’s economy.

The Associated Press called the vote 52.8% against and 47.2% in favour. Support was strongest in San Francisco County, at 56.2%, and Los Angeles County, at 55%; Orange and San Diego counties voted against it. The article says Sergey Brin spent nearly $102 million backing an opposition group, and that the measure could have raised about $100 billion. SEIU-UHW leaders said they may pursue another billionaire tax for the 2028 election if healthcare problems remain unresolved.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.