California Voters Reject Wealth Tax Proposition 40
California voters have rejected Proposition 40, a ballot measure that would have imposed a wealth tax on billionaires to fund healthcare and education. The proposition was defeated by 52.8% to 47.2%, with the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West pushing the measure…
Santa Barbara Santa Maria San Luis Obispo, CA, November 10, 2026 —
California voters have cast their ballots against Proposition 40, a significant statewide measure that proposed the implementation of a wealth tax targeting the state’s wealthiest individuals to generate funding for healthcare and education initiatives.
The proposition faced opposition, ultimately leading to its defeat. Official results indicate that 52.8% of voters rejected the measure, while 47.2% voted in favor. This outcome signifies a rejection of the proposed tax structure and its intended allocations.
Proposition 40 was championed by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, a labor union representing healthcare workers. The union had advocated for the measure as a means to secure essential funding for public services.
Conversely, the proposition was met with a strong opposition from a coalition comprising wealthy individuals and various organizations. Details regarding the specific composition of this opposing coalition were not provided in the summary.
The rejection of Proposition 40 marks a notable development in California’s fiscal policy discussions. The measure aimed to introduce a new revenue stream, but the electoral decision indicates a divergence in public and stakeholder opinion on the approach to funding public services through wealth taxation.
This report is based on information provided by Noozhawk, a news outlet that covers developments relevant to Santa Barbara County.
Story summarized from the original created by Kristen Hwang, CalMatters on www.noozhawk.com, see more information here.
