# Sure, California voters overwhelmingly backed Democrats. But they refused to punish success.

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/sure-california-voters-overwhelmingly-backed-democrats-but-they-refused-to-punish-success/
- Published: 2026-11-05T02:35:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T03:26:04+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/opinion/california-voters-backed-democrats-but-they-refused-to-punish-success/
- Topics: Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- California voters rejected a proposed 5% tax on the wealthiest residents.
- The measure drew support from prominent Democrats and opposition from tech figures.
- The piece says voters prioritised investment and business creation.

## Summary

California voters rejected Proposition 40, a proposed tax on wealthy residents, despite broadly supporting Democrats in the election. The opinion piece argues the result reflects voters’ reluctance to risk jobs, investment and business creation by taxing the state’s most successful entrepreneurs.

The measure would have taken 5% of the wealth of California’s richest residents. It was backed by union leader Dave Regan, who spent $47 million on it and another failed ballot measure, as well as Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna; opponents included Google co-founder Sergey Brin and investor Mark Cuban. The article links the vote to earlier occasions when California voters diverged from the state’s political leanings, including their 2020 support for Proposition 209.

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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.