FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) -- 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 raise it once more to $18 an hour starting January 1, 2025.
The Associated Press called the race with 50.8% of the voters against raising the state's minimum wage while of voters were 49.2% in favor.
Those against Prop 32 say raising the minimum wage would have hurt small and family-owned businesses, increased prices for Californians, and jeopardized funding for public safety and education.
The California Chamber of Commerce, the California Restaurant Association, and the California Grocers Association all opposed Prop 32.
According to those against the proposition, raising the minimum wage would also have left Californians paying higher taxes, cost state and local governments billions of dollars each year, and hurt the very people the bill is supposed to help.
Ballot measures shouldn't be toys for multimillionaires. One person alone—a multimillionaire—is behind Prop 32. One person alone wrote Prop. 32, spent millions getting it on the ballot, and wrote the argument for Prop. 32. Small business and working family advocates don't want prop. 32
Jot Condie, California Restaurant Association President; Jennifer Barrera, California Chamber of Commerce President; and Ron Fong, California Grocers Association President
Proposition 32 remains projected to fail and more vote counts will continue in the coming days, with a certified vote number still to be announced.