Democrats swept Republicans off the map in nearly every purple and blue state, but in many of those same states, voters also approved conservative ballot measures by wide margins.
Voters in eight states passed ballot initiatives strengthening voter identification requirements or explicitly restricting voting to American citizens. Oklahoma voters approved a voter ID constitutional amendment in August, bringing the year’s total to nine states.
Ohio voters — who elected Democrat Amy Acton governor and sent Sherrod Brown back to the Senate — simultaneously approved Issue 3, a ballot measure that writes the state’s photo ID requirement into the constitution, with 65% of the vote.
In North Carolina, where former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper won the state’s open Senate seat by 20 points, 60% of voters backed a measure that extends the state’s photo ID requirement to mail ballots. Kansas voters, who voted to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, also passed a citizens-only voting amendment 64% to 36%. Nevada voters gave a constitutional voter ID amendment its required second approval, after first approving the measure in 2024.
On trans issues, conservative ballot measures drew majority support, even in blue states.
In Washington state, voters approved Initiative 638, which bars boys from competing in girls’ K-12 sports, was leading roughly 56% to 44%. Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson opposed the initiative.
Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood, who filed the initiative, told Outkick the result shows “it’s not a Republican/Democrat issue, it’s a parental issue.”
Two Colorado measures also held leads as ballots continued to be counted. Proposition 134 — which requires K-12 and college teams to be designated by biological sex — leads with 52%, with 87% of the vote counted early Thursday. A companion proposition that restricts trans surgeries for minors meant to alter sex characteristics had roughly 52% support. Both remain uncalled by the Associated Press in the latest reporting review.
Both Colorado measures came from Protect Kids Colorado, a grassroots group that gathered more than 500,000 signatures with over 3,300 volunteers, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
Conservatives also secured victories on sports measures in Nebraska and Arizona. After three straight years of Arizona Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoing similar legislation, Arizona voters approved a measure extending sex-based sports and private-space restrictions to schools and athletic associations. Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment barring boys and men from competing on school and college teams designated for girls and women.
Tax measures offered conservatives additional wins, while California’s proposed billionaire tax was trailing.
California Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on individuals and trusts with more than $1 billion in covered assets, trailed roughly 55% to 45% with about 62% of the estimated vote counted. Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the wealth tax, arguing it would drive wealthy residents out of the state.
Florida voters passed a major property tax cut with 62% of the vote, clearing Florida’s 60% threshold for constitutional amendments. The measure increases the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
Tennessee voters also passed a ballot measure prohibiting a state property tax, and Idaho voters rejected an effort to overturn the state’s abortion ban.
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