Despite setback, California workers and allies vow to continue fight for higher wages amid ongoing affordability crisis 

In a hard-fought and narrow defeat, Proposition 32, the initiative to raise California’s minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2025, fell just short of victory.

This campaign, however, has laid essential groundwork for future wage advocacy, rallying millions of Californians and reinforcing the urgent need for fair wages amid a cost of living crisis  that continues to top voters’ concerns. The fight for economic justice in California is far from over.

When all votes are in, Proposition 32 will have garnered 49.5 percent of the vote, demonstrating growing support for economic justice in California. The fight for fair wages is far from over.

“This close result shows that California workers are ready for change and won’t back down,” said Joe Sanberg, entrepreneur and anti-poverty advocate who was the lead proponent of the measure. “The fight for higher wages and economic dignity for millions of California workers doesn’t end here — we’ll continue until every California worker earns enough to live and thrive. While today’s outcome was not what we expected, we are hopeful for the work ahead. Two million workers won’t get the raise they so desperately deserve, but we’ve already shifted the consciousness of Californians, with recent wins like the $20 minimum wage for fast food workers and $25 for healthcare workers, thanks to the movement we’ve built over the last two years. It’s now incumbent on us to ensure no one is left out.”

Backed by a wide coalition of labor and advocacy organizations — including The California Labor Federation, One Fair Wage, United Farm Workers, the California Working Families Party, and the California Democratic Party —Proposition 32 faced intense opposition from corporate interests that spent years spreading misinformation about the effects of higher wages.

In fact, a recent Berkeley Labor Center study debunked many of these corporate narratives, highlighting that wage increases have led to higher pay, more jobs, and stable prices, especially for fast food workers. These findings serve as a factual repudiation of false corporate claims. Despite these obstacles, the movement has gained unprecedented momentum that will drive further advocacy for California’s workers.

Jane Kim, California Director of the Working Families Party, highlighted the campaign’s significance. “In a state where inequality and high living costs are stark, this race showed that wage justice is not only achievable but imperative. Our coalition has laid a strong foundation, and we are more determined than ever to keep organizing and advancing a fair economy agenda for working families.”

Ada Briceño, Co-President of Unite Here Local 11, said, “The opposition may have temporarily won, but California’s working families remain resolute. This campaign was just one battle, and it has energized a movement that will only grow stronger. We will continue the fight for higher wages and an economy that supports all Californians, by any means necessary.”

Proposition 32’s coalition remains committed to lifting wages and addressing the affordability crisis facing millions across the state. This campaign has set a powerful precedent, showing that future efforts for higher wages are both possible and necessary to support California’s working families in the years ahead.

According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office Report on The Minimum Wage, many of the state’s largest low-wage occupations—such as home health aides and cashiers — are filled by workers who continue to struggle as wages lag behind soaring living costs. Proposition 32 would have lifted the wages of more than 2 million workers, raising their pay and helping them keep up with inflation.

About Proposition 32
Proposition 32 is a California ballot measure aimed at raising the statewide minimum wage to $17 per hour by the end of 2024, and to $18 per hour starting January 1, 2025. This measure addresses the growing wage gap and the rising cost of living, offering much-needed economic relief to the state’s low-wage workers, many of whom are struggling to meet basic living expenses. Proposition 32 is seen as a critical step toward ensuring a livable wage for millions of Californians.