Voters have rejected a measure that would have overturned California’s 24-year-old ban on affirmative action. The measure as of Wednesday morning was failing 56-44%.
Proposition 16 would have rescinded Proposition 209, which outlawed the use of affirmative action in hiring, awarding of contracts and granting admission to state colleges and universities. That measure passed in 1996.
Advocates of affirmative action have been working to modify or overturn Proposition 209 ever since, and they thought the current national discussion about race and social justice could help their cause. Proposition 16 drew high-profile supporters, including California Sen. Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. It also raised a substantial war chest of more than $26 million.
But polls showed the measure struggling with voters. Several pre-election surveys showed that barely one-third of voters supported it.
California is one of just eight states that currently ban affirmative action.
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— Katie Orr (@1KatieOrr)
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