Did Californians Repeal The Gas Tax? Prop. 6 Results

With more taxes than one can easily count here in California, many voters took to the voting booth on Tuesday to say "nay" to the state's most recent gas tax, also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act. But apparently not enough.

Proposition 6 was one of the measures that everyone was watching, and curious minds want to know if it passed — repealing the tax that was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. However, by Tuesday morning it appeared the measure was not approved by voters, with 44.7 percent voting yes to 55.3 percent voting no.

Scroll down to check the remaining statewide results for Proposition 6 as they come in.

State officials said the tax was estimated to raise $52.4 billion between 2017 and 2027 through vehicle fees and by increasing the gas tax $0.12 per gallon and the diesel fuel tax $0.20 per gallon. The billions raised go toward road repairs and transportation improvements across the state.

A vote for Prop. 6 would have eliminated the tax and defunded the transportation projects. Counties such as Los Angeles stood to lose roughly $1 billion a year in transportation funding. The measure would further require voter and legislative approval as well as the governor's signature to impose future fuel taxes or vehicle fees if it had passed.

While support for the measure lagged early in the polls, it surged steadily in the final weeks of the campaign. A SurveyUSA poll from mid-October found 58 percent of voters in favor of the measure compared to 29 percent against. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll put the contest much closer with 41 percent in support of the measure compared to 42 percent against.

Still, opposition to the measure vastly out-fundraised the support. According to Ballotpedia, the opposition raised $32 million compared to just $4 million in support. The measure's opponents were many. They included Gov. Jerry Brown, the Democratic Party, cities and counties up and down the state, transportation advocacy groups and organized labor.

Supporters included Cox, the California Republican Party, numerous Republican members of Congress and several Republican candidates.

Cox helped write the official ballot statement in favor the repeal, arguing, "California's cost of living is skyrocketing and working families can barely keep up. The new gas and car tax hikes can cost a family of four more than $500 per year! That's not pennies, that's real money."

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