On an election night in which Democrats showed surprising resolve in the face of a potential red wave, liberals could cheer a number of statewide victories on statewide ballot measures.
The pro-abortion-rights side has won at least four and possibly five ballot measures on abortion, including in solidly red Kentucky. Another red state, South Dakota, expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, while all three states considering a minimum wage increase approved them.
The main conservative wins in ballot measures came on marijuana legalization in deep red states, while there were split decisions for liberals and conservatives on gun policy, labor unions and the environment.
Here’s a closer look at the biggest issues on Tuesday’s ballot:
Three states – California, Michigan and Vermont – had ballot measures that would enshrine abortion-rights protections, and each of the three passed easily. California voters were approving Proposition 1 by a 2-1 margin, Michigan was passing Proposal 3 by double digits, and Vermont passed its measure by a 3-1 margin.
More surprising were the results in the two red states that were considering anti-abortion measures. In Kentucky, a measure to make clear in the state constitution that there is no right to abortion was losing with 53% voting against it.
The other anti-abortion measure on the ballot was in Montana, which would provide that “infants born alive, including infants born alive after an abortion, are legal persons, requiring health care providers to take necessary actions to preserve [their] life.” It was losing with 54% against.
Photos: America Votes
Marijuana and Other Drug Policy
Legal recreational marijuana passed by a 2-1 margin in Maryland. But it had a less supportive welcome in red states.
In Missouri, the legalization measure was leading, but only narrowly. It was solidly rejected in Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.
In Colorado, which had already legalized marijuana, a measure sought to legalize substances including psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, which is considered a possible tool for treating addiction. Oregon passed a similar measure two years ago. The Colorado measure was leading but only very narrowly.
Voters in solidly Republican South Dakota appear to have voted to provide Medicaid to lower-income adults between the ages of 18 and 65. South Dakota had previously declined to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The measure was leading by double digits.
However, a different health care proposal, in Oregon, was losing narrowly in early returns. This measure was more vague, adding language to the constitution that says the state will “ensure” that every resident “has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right.”
Minimum wage hikes passed or were leading in states red (Nebraska, by a 3-2 margin), purple (Nevada, by double digits), and blue (Washington, D.C., by a 3-1 margin).
Two states acted to expand voter options. By a 3-2 margin, Connecticut approved in-person early voting, something other blue states had already put in place. And in Michigan, a measure to implement ballot drop boxes, require nine days of early voting, and start no-excuse absentee voting won by double digits.
Nevada was considering a ranked-choice voting system for congressional, statewide executive and legislative seats in Nevada. In early returns, it was narrowly leading. And in Arizona, a proposition to tighten restrictions on both mail balloting and in-person voting was failing by 10 points.
The one successful effort to tighten voting rules came in Nebraska, which voted to require a valid photo ID to vote. That measure passed by a 2-1 margin.
Immigration and Citizenship
Two states asked their voters to liberalize policy toward immigrants, and both were leading – but only narrowly.
Arizona’s measure would allow certain non-citizen residents to benefit from in-state tuition rates at public colleges. The measure in Massachusetts would allow residents to secure a driver’s license even if they are not in the U.S. legally.
By a 2-1 margin, Iowa approved adding language to the state constitution affirming the right to own and bear firearms and require strict judicial scrutiny of any alleged violation.
A measure to tighten gun policy was too close to call based on early returns. The Oregon measure would ban magazines with more than 10 rounds and would require a permit and a safety course to buy a gun.
One blue state and one red state went their expected directions on ballot measures affecting labor unions.
By a 3-2 margin, Illinois appears to have passed a measure that would create a state constitutional right to collective bargaining.
But in Tennessee, a right-to-work measure that makes it illegal for workplaces to mandate labor union membership passed with 70%.
Two big blue states appear to be going different ways on ballot measures on the environment.
New York voters appear to have given 70% to a measure that provides $4.2 billion in bonds for environmental and infrastructure projects, including climate change mitigation.
But California voters were on their way to rejecting a measure to increase the personal income tax above $2 million by 1.75%, dedicating the revenue to zero-emission vehicle incentives and projects as well as wildfire prevention. The measure was being rejected by 57% of voters. It had been sponsored by ride-share company Lyft but somewhat unexpectedly been opposed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who by most measures is a strong environmentalist.
Competing, and heavily advertised, measures in California – one to legalize sports betting in person at Indian casinos and licensed racetracks, and the other to legalize sports betting online – were both losing overwhelmingly.
Rules for Legislatures and Legislators
Oregon voters were on their way to approving a measure to keep state lawmakers from running for reelection if they had 10 or more unexcused absences. The minority party – most recently Republicans – had used the state’s two-thirds quorum rule to shutter chamber business by not showing up for sessions. The measure was winning by a 2-1 margin.
In Michigan, voters approved by a 2-1 margin a measure that would set 12-year term limits for state legislative service, as well as stiffen financial disclosure rules for legislators and statewide elected officials.
And in North Dakota, voters approved an eight-year term limit for the governor and eight years in each legislative chamber. The measure passed with nearly two-thirds of the vote.
