California Becomes First State in Decades to Vote Down Minimum Wage Increase

Some politicians in Congress have advocated for the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage. But efforts have not been successful. (Credit: AFP)

California residents voted against raising the state's minimum wage, marking the first such failure in the U.S. in decades.

Over the past ten years, California has significantly increased its minimum wage, which currently stands at $16 an hour—one of the highest in the nation. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have seen higher rates.