Fox News Suffers Shocking 40% Election Ratings Decline (Go Woke Go Broke)

 Fox News suffered a devastating 40% plunge in prime-time election night viewership compared with the 2022 midterms, according to Nielsen ratings released this past week.

This bad news for the network is part of a broader ratings collapse that has taken place in the past few months as Fox has lost nearly 30% of its audience amid growing criticism from President Donald Trump and his supporters.

Nielsen figures showed Fox losing nearly half its election night audience even as overall television viewership for the Nov. 3 midterms coverage surged 23% compared with four years earlier.

Over 27 million Americans watched prime-time election coverage across six major networks, underscoring the extraordinary contrast between growing public interest in the elections and Fox's sharply declining audience.

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Fox, which attracted nearly 7.5 million prime-time viewers during the 2022 midterms, saw its audience plunge to 4.3 million viewers this year.

Meanwhile, Newsmax saw significant viewership on Election Day, with a total reach of over 4.6 million viewers tuning in.

NBC emerged as the night's biggest winner, attracting approximately 6.8 million prime-time viewers.

CNN also posted substantial gains, drawing approximately 4.2 million viewers compared with 2.6 million in 2022.

The election night disaster follows an alarming deterioration in Fox's regular ratings.

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According to Nielsen figures for October, Fox averaged approximately 1.1 million total-day viewers, down 27% from October 2025.

And its prime-time audience declined approximately 28% year over year.

Among adults ages 25 to 54, the demographic most valuable to advertisers, Fox's total-day audience plunged 32% to just 98,000 viewers, its weakest monthly performance in approximately 25 years.

The network's prime-time audience in that demographic fell an even steeper 36%.

The mounting losses have put Fox Corporation chief executive Lachlan Murdoch under scrutiny.

During an earnings call earlier this month, Murdoch attributed the network's declining audience to what he called "viewer fatigue," arguing that Americans were exhausted by an intense political news cycle.

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"What we are seeing, though, is some viewer fatigue," Murdoch told investors.

He insisted Fox viewers were not abandoning the network for competitors.

"Those viewers are not going to any other news channel. They're not switching to MS Now or to CNN," Murdoch said.

But CNN and MS Now recorded audience gains in October, challenging the suggestion that declining interest in television news alone explains Fox's losses.

The ratings collapse also comes amid an increasingly bitter feud between Fox and Trump, who has repeatedly accused the network of favoring Democrats and undermining Republican candidates.

"FoxNews is spending far too much time putting on the OPPONENTS of Republican Party Candidates," Trump complained on Truth Social.

In another attack, the president declared: "Fox is promoting the Dumocrats, not the Republicans and MAGA. They have totally lost their way!"

Trump has blamed GOP losses this past Tuesday on Fox's negative coverage of his administration. He has encouraged conservative viewers to seek alternative news outlets, including Newsmax.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has been equally outspoken, describing Fox as "RINO TV every day" and urging conservatives to abandon the channel for Newsmax.

"Turn off Fox News," Navarro declared.

Navarro also published an article on Newsmax titled "Why I Turned Off Fox," criticizing the network's editorial direction and encouraging conservative audiences to switch outlets.

Tensions intensified following Fox's September departure of longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo, whom Trump praised as a "total professional" and a "true warrior."

The president warned that her supporters "will not be happy."

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So Much for Democracy: Seattle’s Socialist Mayor Has a Plan for Voters Who Didn’t Vote Her Way

Washington voters approved Initiative 638, which protects girls' sports, by about 56 percent to 44 percent last week. That is a significant margin in a blue-wave election, and in a state where Democrats control nearly everything. They did so, as the Seattle Times points out, when two other conservative-backed initiatives failed and as Republicans lost several seats in the state Legislature.

As RedState's Teri Christoph noted, I-638's showing was "the real surprise" of election night. The measure bars biological males from competing on K-12 girls' sports teams. More than 1.25 million Washingtonians voted yes. That should have settled it.

Instead, the Seattle School Board voted unanimously on Nov. 9 to hire lawyers and challenge the law. Board Director Joe Mizrahi said, "These laws reflect values our communities have fought for and overwhelmingly support," adding that "we don't see a way to implement Initiative 638 without violating those vital protections."

Mizrahi has it backward. The voters just proved they "overwhelmingly support" the effort to protect girls. And he's trying to undo it by falsely claiming the community is on his side while stripping away protections for the group that actually needs them (the girls).

A day later, socialist Mayor Katie Wilson rushed to sign on.

"I support the Seattle Public Schools Board's decision to challenge Initiative 638, because every young person in Seattle deserves to thrive as their authentic self," Wilson wrote on X.

Everyone deserves to thrive. Just not the girls who'd rather not compete against boys twice their size and strength.

1.25 million voters chose to protect them, and Katie wants to subvert the people's will. Washington voters had thoughts about the mayor's take on democracy, and her post was ratioed into oblivion.

"The people already voted to keep boys out of girls' sports. Why do you hate Democracy, tyrant?" wrote school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis.

Independent journalist Andy Ngo added, "Democrats in Washington state have no problem undermining democracy and civil rights when it suits their ends."

"No kings, Katie," another said. "You are a threat to democracy."

The school board isn't the only one heading to court. The ACLU of Washington, Legal Voice, and Pacifica Law Group have filed a separate suit asking a King County judge to block I-638 before it takes effect Dec. 3, the Seattle Times reports. The plaintiffs include the Washington Education Association teachers union, the advocacy group TransFamilies, and several anonymous parents.

Voters pass a law, so you seek out a friendly judge and dress it up as a civil rights crisis. Who needs ballots when you've got a King County courtroom to overturn an election?

Let's Go Washington, the group behind the initiative, isn't buying it.

"They want boys in girls' sports at all costs, and they are willing to undermine democracy to get them there," spokesman Darren Littell said.

The group also points to the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling that upheld sex-based sports categories, which leaves the challengers with a steep legal hill to climb.

That leaves Wilson in an awkward spot. Democrats spent years warning that democracy itself was on the ballot. Then the ballot came back with an answer they didn't like, and the mayor of Washington's largest city decided the will of the people no longer matters.

Credit: redstate.com 

 

Texas Gun Owners Just Got a Preview of Life Under Democrats, and It’s Already Getting Ugly

Texas Democrats rode last week's blue wave to a majority in the state House and the governor's mansion, and they've wasted no time showing gun owners what comes next. 

It ain't pretty.

When bill prefiling opened on November 9, Democrats flooded the docket with gun-control proposals. The Texan counted 23 gun bills, all but one in the House, and NRA-ILA tallied roughly 35 firearm-related bills on day one alone.

That's a lot of gun control bills for a group that duped voters into thinking their primary concern was gas and grocery prices.

The wish list reads like it was copied straight from New York, not the Lone Star State.

State Rep. Ann Johnson's HB 218 would create "extreme risk protective orders," better known as red flag laws, and would repeal the 2025 law Gov. Greg Abbott signed banning them. Such laws are a blatant violation of due process, allowing the government to seize a person's firearms before they have been convicted of a crime or given a full opportunity to defend themselves in court.

There is little evidence that they actually work.

The 2027 Texas legislative session hasn't even begun, and lawmakers have already filed roughly 35 firearm-related bills, including proposals to: - ban certain semi-automatic firearms - restrict gun ownership for adults under 21 - impose background checks on private sales - establish red flag laws

— NRA (@NRA) November 10, 2026

Embedded tweet continues:

... - establish red flag laws.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini's SB 80 would make it a state felony for anyone under 21 to buy a so-called "assault weapon." That definition is broad enough to cover a centerfire rifle with a pistol grip or a folding stock.

State Rep. Suleman Lalani's HB 606 goes further still and bans anyone under 21 from buying any firearm at all. Old enough to enlist, not old enough to buy a deer rifle.

Then there's Rep. Joe Moody's HB 659. It would require dealers to report anyone who buys two or more guns, or four or more magazines, in a short window. The report would go to the Texas Department of Public Safety and the buyer's local sheriff.

Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt wasn't impressed.

“Democrats campaigned on affordability. On day one, they filed gun confiscation instead: red flag orders without a hearing, universal background checks, gun bans for adults under 21, and a registry," he told The Texan. "Twenty-three anti-gun bills hit the docket on day one, and Texas Gun Rights will fight every one of them. No confiscation, no registration, no compromise."

On HB 659, he added: "Call it whatever you want. It's a gun registry, and registration is the first step to confiscation."

Texas stands as long as the Texas Senate Republican caucus holds the line. We will.

— Charles Schwertner (@DrSchwertner) November 4, 2026

Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, meanwhile, has gone quiet. The Texan reports she "has not spoken specifically on any of the proposed gun bills so far," though she has supported similar legislation in the past. In an October interview with The New Yorker, she said she opposes constitutional carry and that "people should have a background check to carry a gun."

Fortunately, one firewall remains. Republicans still control the Texas Senate, and they've made clear they won't roll over and show their belly when it comes to Second Amendment protections.

"Texas stands as long as the Texas Senate Republican caucus holds the line," state Sen. Charles Schwertner wrote on election night. "We will."

The session opens Jan. 12. Texas gun owners had better hope the line holds.

Credit: redstate.com 

 

Are They Ignorant, Selfish, Apathetic...or Just Plain Evil?

When speaking of Democratic Party politicians, the answer to the question in the title is very easy—they are just pure evil.  Some of them, yes, do fall into the other categories as well, but the people who advocate and urge evil (more on that in a moment) are evil.  And every Democrat politician supports incredibly, vile, evil things.

But when we are talking about the various people who vote for the Democrats, the motives and rationales are not always so uncomplicated.  I base this article on a recent Breitbart headline:  “Democrat Who Said Trump Supporters Belong in Concentration Camps on Track to Win North Caroline House Seat.”  This is, of course, appalling, horrifying, revolting, and, yes, pure, 100% evil.  There is no other word for it.

I don’t agree with Democratic politicians on much, if anything, and I think all of them are incurably evil, dangerous to the country, and belong nowhere near any position of power or influence.  But I would never suggest, or even think, of putting them in a concentration camp, with the horrors the countless innocent people endured in the Nazi and communist camps.  And certainly not their “supporters.”  Who’s the real Nazi here?  And, yes, it’s not surprising that a communist (which is pretty much what the Democratic Party has become) would want to throw their opponents into gulags.  This Democratic politician (Shelly Headen) is a vile, disgusting fiend, but what about the people who voted for her?  How could anybody vote for her?  But yes, she did win the House election and is going to Congress.  This is what America has become?

Different people have different motives for voting for evil people, of course.  Some do it because they are evil, too.  Others because they know absolutely nothing about history and what the Left has done through time. Many, sadly, are just stupid, and have no mental ability at all to think, reason, and draw proper conclusions.  Countless voters are selfish—the Democrats give them the money, etc., they want, and they aren’t going to bite the hand that feeds them, regardless of how vile the politicians are whom they vote for.  Many voters are just apathetic.  They really don’t care.  That amounts to selfishness, too, they think only about themselves—if they think at all.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these EVIL THINGS come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23, my emphasis).

Regardless of the ultimate motive, those who vote for Democrats have something seriously wrong with their hearts, are voting for evil (which of the above sins Jesus mentioned does the Democratic Party, the Left not promote today?), and, to that extent, are just as evil as the politicians they support.

Shelly Headen said she wants her enemies in concentration camps—just like the Nazis and communists.  And North Carolinians put her in Congress.  For whatever other motive might be involved, those who vote for such a person are evil.  Period.  Maybe stupid, maybe ignorant, but stupidity and ignorance are no excuse for evil, not in America, not today.

Are many Americans just not listening?  That’s apathy, and no excuse for voting for evil, either.  It is becoming hard to conceive how incredibly... abominable? decadent? barbaric? what's the word, folks?...that millions of Americans have become.  How could any civilized, decent quarter-wit vote for a person like Shelly Headen?  Or James Talrico?  Abdul El-Sayed? Any Democrat?  Republicans certainly have their faults and weaknesses, that’s for sure, and I would never claim that Donald Trump is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.  But I have never heard any Republican—or Trump—say he/she wants to throw Democrats into concentration camps, or who wants to re-shoot some dead Democrat supporter.  This is frightening, folks, that there is any American so monstrous, so utterly empty of a conscience, that they believe these things.  And what’s even worse, there are millions and millions of Americans who listen to and/or vote for these people.  This is horrid beyond description.  How did America ever sink so low?

Again, I ask, are Americans just not listening, or are they so apathetic and evil that they don’t care that a person in Congress wants to throw her opponents into a concentration camp?  That their podcasters are laughing about shooting Charlie Kirk again.  That babies can be murdered in the womb up to the time of birth (and maybe even beyond).  And if children are allowed life beyond birth, they can be butchered, mutilated, and maimed for life for the pleasure of sexual perverts.  That a woman can have a penis and a man can get pregnant (what can the other four genders do, Mr. Talarico).  What in the world has happened to the country?  Is this the hell America has become?  This is repulsive to any decent human being, inexcusable and indefensible.  And the American people have given over half the Congress to the gargoyles who push this stuff with all of their might.  What does that say about the American people?  Ignorant?  Selfish?  Apathetic?  Pure evil?  Or all the above?

Shelly Headen can feel like she was vindicated for what she said—she wants to throw Trump supporters into concentration camps, and the people in her district elected her to Congress, where she now has power.  Would they have elected Adolf Hitler if he ran for Congress in that district and said the same thing?  Do the people in her district really believe that Donald Trump is worse than Adolf Hitler?  Then “stupid” and “evil” are the nicest words to describe them  

What Headen wants is what the Left has done all over the world.  So, when it starts happening in America, folks, don’t be surprised.  The American people are voting for it.  If you were a Democrat, what would you conclude?

Check out my Substack: “Mark It Down! (mklewis929.substack.com), and “Mark It Down! Bible Substack” (mklbibless.substack.com). Both free. Read my great tales of the Old American West, available on Amazon and Kindle: Whitewater, River Bend, Return to River Bend, Allie’s Dilemma, and Kendrick and other stories. Follow me on “X”: @thailandmkl.

Credit:  Mark Lewis  townhall.com

 

John Thune Got Roasted on Social Media Again and What He Said Afterward Didn't Help

I mean, he might as well have said, "promises made, promises I’ll likely break." Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was easily reelected to lead Senate Republicans as they enter the minority next year, along with the rest of the leadership slate. The Senate’s lack of urgency and action partially contributed to the blue wave. 

Some record of accomplishment. @LarryOConnor mocks John Thune’s pitch to stay Senate GOP leader after the election disaster: “Did you see John Thune on the campaign trail at all saying any of this? Me neither.” “Did John Thune secure the border? Did I miss something there?” “By the way, there’s a ton of judges waiting to be confirmed right now. Why weren’t those taken care of? Why are we waiting for a lame duck session to do that?”

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 9, 2026

The House got things done, and the Senate would just let it die in quicksand. The circus over DHS funding last Presidents' Day weekend and the now-dead Save America Act—Thune is an exceptional leader at crashing into the guardrails. And now, we’re entrusting him to fight as the minority leader. I’m prepared to be a doormat. 

 

Thune suggests that there wasn't a ton Republicans could have done differently to avoid the midterm losses and said in meetings today he "wasn't apologizing for anything that we did." ` He said that tax cuts are "the most consequential piece of legislation I've worked on" and blamed government shutdowns for slowing down the GOP Congress "I think on the political side, I don't know what else we want. There was a lot of money that we raised ... but it's a good example that money sometimes doesn't matter if you don't have the winning message"

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) November 10, 2026

Thune suggests that there wasn't a ton Republicans could have done differently to avoid the midterm losses and said in meetings today he "wasn't apologizing for anything that we did." `

He said that tax cuts are "the most consequential piece of legislation I've worked on" and blamed government shutdowns for slowing down the GOP Congress 

"I think on the political side, I don't know what else we want. There was a lot of money that we raised ... but it's a good example that money sometimes doesn't matter if you don't have the winning message"

And that’s after his tweet got ratioed to death, pelted like Bonnie and Clyde

Credit:  townhall.com

 

House of Representatives blocks effort to impeach Hegseth

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to block an effort to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, effectively killing the resolution by referring it to the House Judiciary Committee.

In a 211-to-204 procedural vote, House Republicans successfully rallied to table the impeachment push introduced by outgoing Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Massie was the sole member of his party to vote alongside all voting Democrats against referring the measure to the committee.

The move sidestepped what would have been a historic full House floor vote on individual articles of impeachment against a sitting Cabinet member. The impeachment resolution leveled serious allegations against Secretary Hegseth, accusing him of committing high crimes and misdemeanors while serving as the head of the Pentagon.

Among the charges were claims that Hegseth bypassed Congress by executing military operations in Iran without authorization, failed to minimize civilian casualties, ordered extrajudicial strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, directed operations involved in the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and retaliated against Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

 

Rep. Massie claimed that Hegseth carried out unlawful orders and compromised constitutional standards, seeking a formal trial in the U.S. Senate. In response to the resolution, Hegseth and administration officials forcefully pushed back against the charges ahead of the vote.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Hegseth described the impeachment push as a partisan “farce” and “political spectacle,” asserting that policy disagreements over military campaigns should not be twisted into impeachable offenses.

President Donald Trump also rallied behind his defense chief in social media posts and public statements, defending Hegseth’s actions and urging congressional Republicans to reject the resolution. Following the vote, Pentagon officials declared total victory, stating that referring the articles to committee put an end to a political distraction.

Although the procedural maneuver halts the current effort during the outgoing Congress, the battle over Hegseth’s tenure may reemerge. House Democrat leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), supported the impeachment push, and other Democrat lawmakers have signaled that they could revive investigations or file new impeachment articles when the new Congress convenes in January with a shifted Democrat majority.

Nonetheless, for now, the procedural vote ensures Hegseth remains in his post as the administration continues to uphold its foreign policy and military directives.

Credit: oann.com 

 

President Nayib Bukele Crowdsources Airstrike on 400 Mawozo HQ

 President Nayib Bukele did something bold and messy: he asked users on X to point out the exact location of a suspected gang leader’s home in Haiti — and then posted video saying Salvadoran forces struck and “destroyed” that house and the 400 Mawozo gang’s headquarters. It reads like politics by livestream and vigilante justice with a production crew. That alone deserves scrutiny and some applause.

What Bukele announced on X

On his X account, President Bukele asked followers to give the exact address of a luxury house linked to Wilson Joseph, the man known as Lanmò San Jou, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. He later posted a produced video and declared Salvadoran troops had destroyed the house and the gang’s headquarters. The footage shows helicopter strikes and military movement. Whether you cheer or wince, the message was loud and simple: get coordinates, and men with guns will act.

Video claims and the need for verification

Verification gaps matter

Here’s the catch: the video Bukele shared is a montage and has not been fully geolocated. Independent on‑the‑ground confirmation of the exact target, timing, and casualty numbers is limited. Different outlets report differing casualty figures, and NGOs and U.N. officials warn about civilian harm. So while Bukele’s post is public and dramatic, smart reporting — and smart policy — treats the clip as a claim, not as indisputable proof.

Diplomacy, deconfliction, and inconvenient truths

There’s a reason diplomats and UN staff are twitchy. The U.S. embassy has reportedly registered concerns about coordination. U.N. offices and Haitian civil society are warning about strikes in populated areas and the risk to civilians. Conservatives who favor law and order should not automatically shrug off these warnings. Tough action against gangs is necessary. But amateur crowdsourcing of strike coordinates and unilateral foreign operations in a fragile state invite diplomatic headaches and, worse, civilian casualties.

Support the result, demand the record

Let’s be clear: 400 Mawozo and gang bosses like Lanmò San Jou have terrorized Haitians for years. Rooting them out is right. But cheering from the sidelines while applauding a crowd‑sourced hit job is short-sighted. If governments are going to act militarily, they must also document what happened, show the evidence, and answer tough questions about civilian protection and coordination with partners. Bukele’s move is effective theater. Now he — and partners on the ground — need to prove it was also precise, lawful, and worth the risk.

Credit:  patriotpowerednetwork.com

Representative Jim Jordan and Senator John Thune Reveal GOP Split

The House and Senate GOP have just picked their leaders for life in the minority — and the choices tell you everything about what kind of fight Republicans plan to run next year. Representative Jim Jordan won the House conference vote by a clear margin, and Senator John Thune was quietly re‑installed as Senate leader by acclamation. Same conference, different moods: one wants a brawl; the other wants to steady the ship.

What the votes actually were

House Republicans chose Representative Jim Jordan to lead the conference in the next Congress in a secret ballot, 106 to 73 over Rep. Steve Scalise. That’s a solid margin for Jordan and a clear signal: the rank‑and‑file want a tough, combative leader. In the Senate, Republicans re‑elected Senator John Thune and the leadership team by acclamation in a closed meeting. No roll call. No drama. Just continuity.

Why this matters for GOP strategy

This isn’t a cosmetic shuffle. Jordan’s elevation points the House GOP toward aggressive oversight, loud messaging, and a confrontational posture aimed at shaping the political headlines. Even as Democrats control both chambers, Jordan can use committee fights, subpoenas, and constant media pressure to set the terms of the debate. Meanwhile, Thune’s return signals the Senate conference wants stability and experienced hands in the minority — someone who knows floor tactics and how to slow or shape legislation without theatrics.

Jordan’s playbook: oversight, offense, and base fuel

If you know Jim Jordan, you know what to expect: relentless oversight probes and a hunger for headlines. That appeals to the party’s activist base and donors who want fire and fury against Democratic policies. It also risks alienating swing voters who punished the GOP in the midterms. So Jordan will have to walk a tightrope: be loud enough to satisfy the base, but disciplined enough not to hand Democrats easy talking points. Expect hearings, press surges, and a minority strategy built around keeping Republicans relevant and fundraising strong heading into 2028.

 

Thune’s retention: steady or stagnant?

Keeping John Thune suggests the Senate GOP chose cohesion over a full reckoning after election losses. That can be smart — the Senate needs calm tradecraft in the minority. But it also raises questions: will frustrated senators push for change, or will they give Thune room to adapt? A leadership that’s too comfortable risks looking complacent. A leadership that pivots too quickly risks chaos. Thune will have to balance managing dissent and setting a credible counterweight to Democratic priorities.

The bottom line: Republicans have split their playbook. The House, under Representative Jim Jordan, has chosen a scorched‑earth communications and oversight strategy. The Senate, under Senator John Thune, prefers a quieter, procedural resistance. Both moves are meant to keep the party competitive while it rebuilds. Now the test: can they turn combative energy and steady experience into a winning message for the country — not just for cable TV and donor emails?

Credit:  patriotpowerednetwork.com

 

Veterans Day 2026

 

California Voters Reject Billionaire Tax

 California voters rejected a proposed tax on billionaires even as Democrats won control of Congress and scored victories in statewide races in the midterm elections.

Newsmax projected Monday that California voters had rejected Proposition 40, nearly a week after Election Day. With about 82% of the vote counted, 52.9% opposed the proposal and 47.1% supported it.

The tax would have imposed a one-time 5% levy on residents with a net worth of at least $1 billion.

Two competing ballot measures sought to restrict wealth taxes or impose added requirements on new state taxes. Under California law, when conflicting propositions pass in the same election, the provisions of the measure receiving more affirmative votes generally prevail.

Proposition 42, which would prohibit certain new taxes on personal wealth and retroactive taxes, remained undecided Monday night. With 87% of the ballots counted, 51.7% supported the measure and 48.3% opposed it.

Proposition 41, which would restrict certain new taxes, was defeated, with 54.8% voting against it and 45.2% in favor, according to Decision Desk HQ.

The campaign over Proposition 40 and the two competing measures was among the most expensive ballot-measure fights in California history, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

More than $400 million was spent on the three measures, with more than 90% going toward efforts to defeat the billionaire tax, according to campaign finance disclosures filed with the California secretary of state's office.

Billionaires, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to groups that financed advertising campaigns against the tax. Brin alone contributed $102 million.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Teachers Association, and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California were among the prominent Democrats and Democrat-aligned groups that expressed concerns about the proposal, including the possibility that billionaires would leave the state.

The Times reported that some billionaires, including Brin and fellow Google co-founder Larry Page, moved out of California amid concerns about the proposed tax.

Ads opposing the billionaire tax argued that it could affect all Californians, not just the ultra-wealthy. Advertisements featured teachers, firefighters, and other middle-class Californians arguing against the proposal, the Times reported.

Opponents of Proposition 40 said Californians made the "right decision," calling the proposal a "reckless experiment" that would hurt the state's economy. The coalition included the California Medical Association, California Primary Care Association, and California School Boards Association.

"Proposition 40 risked California's economic competitiveness and fiscal stability, as well as the revenue we rely on to fund our top priorities — from education and healthcare to public safety and infrastructure," the group said, according to the Times.

Leaders of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, which sponsored Proposition 40, vowed to pursue another billionaire tax measure in 2028 unless state leaders find other ways to support healthcare, the Times reported.

California lawmakers face a difficult budget outlook next year, raising questions about how the state could replace an estimated $100 billion in federal healthcare funding cuts, according to the Times.

Supporters said the proposed tax on more than 200 California billionaires was intended to raise $100 billion, with 90% of the revenue going to healthcare and the remaining 10% to schools and food assistance.

"Billionaire-funded propaganda may have influenced the outcome of this election, but as hospitals reduce services, emergency rooms close and families lose access to care, the truth will become increasingly difficult to hide," Suzanne Jimenez, chief of staff for the SEIU-UHW, told the Times. "Californians will see for themselves what was at stake."

At the federal level, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who backed Proposition 40, are pushing for an annual 5% tax on American billionaires. Earlier this year, they introduced the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act.

Michael Katz ✉

Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than three decades of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.

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