This year, voters in 41 states decide on 159 statewide ballot measures with issues ranging from abortion and marijuana to changing election procedures and regulating affordable housing, Committees supporting or opposing those ballot measures raised more than $417 million combined as of Oct. 28.
While each state has different regulations governing how measures are put on the ballot, money is still needed to get voters' attention. Florida's Measure 3, which would legalize the use of marijuana for adults 21 and over, is the most expensive. Groups spending on the measure have collectively raised more than $125 million with over $101 million going to groups supporting the measure and more than $23 million to those against it.
Not all measures are that costly. In fact, OpenSecrets' analysis found that as of Oct. 28, at least 97 measures across the country attracted no spending at all.
But a number of hot-button issues on ballots across the country are attracting big money.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health that overturned the federal right to abortion, several states have made their own decisions on abortion access. Some states are continuing to grapple with the issue and it is on the ballot in 10 states in November.
Marijuana, along with housing and wage regulation, is another hot-button issue on the ballot in multiple states.
The Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade hasn't just triggered state action around abortion rights, it has also led activists to question whether other Supreme Court decisions could be in jeopardy. Activists in California, Colorado and Hawaii are taking their concerns to the polls to proactively cement the right for same-sex couples the right to marry if the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling is ever overturned.
Spending on ballot measures related to abortion rights has exceeded $122.7 million across the country, outpacing all other issues.
States continue to tackle abortion after Dobbs
In 10 states, voters will decide on 11 ballot measures that deal with abortion access. One ballot measure in Nebraska would ban access to abortion in the state after the first trimester while the other 10 measures would codify the right to abortion, with a number of the measures adding specific language to state constitutions that allows abortions until viability.
In Nebraska, voters will weigh two competing measures governing abortion access. Initiative 434 would prohibit abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy except in cases relating to rape and incest or if there is a medical emergency. Nebraska billionaires Jack and Marlene Ricketts, owners of the Chicago Cubs, donated over $2.1 million to support the initiative. In total, groups spending on the initiative have drawn in more than $7.8 million with $4.1 million going to the measure's supporters and $3.6 million raised by groups opposing it.
On the other side of the issue, Initiative 439, would create a state constitutional amendment allowing access to abortion until fetal viability. Supporters of the initiative have raised nearly $3.7 million in support of the initiative, with reproductive health group Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska giving more than $900,000.
In the battleground state of Arizona, Proposition 139 would create an amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing every individual's right to an abortion until fetal viability. Groups supporting the measure have raised more than $17.5 million, while funding of groups opposing the measure has not passed the half-million mark.
The 501(c)(4) nonprofit Arizonans Fed Up With Failing Health is the top donor to Arizona for Abortion Access
Missouri's Amendment 3 would amend the state constitution to provide for reproductive freedom which the measure defines as including "prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions." Supporters of the amendment have raised $21 million with $4.5 million of that from the 501(c)(4) nonprofit Sixteen Thirty Fund, a liberal "dark money" group that does not disclose its donors. Groups opposing the amendment have raised over $1.3 million, including $210,000 from former Missouri Solicitor General John Sauer, an attorney on former President Donald Trump's legal team.
Record-breaking money ignites fight over marijuana legalization
Marijuana legalization has also attracted millions of dollars in spending from supporters and opponents across the country. In three states, voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adults while voters in Nebraska will decide whether to legalize medical marijuana.
The amount of money pouring into committees spending on Florida's Measure 3 dwarfs spending on initiatives in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota combined.
Some of the top spenders on Measure 3 are cannabis companies, With over $93 million in contributions, medical cannabis company Truelieve is the top contributor to Smart and Safe Florida, which is supporting the measure. These contributions have set a new record for marijuana ballot measures, surpassing the previous record set by California's Proposition 64, which raised more than $36.7 million. A quarter of the total money -- more than $21 million -- flowing into the state's ballot measure committees has gone to oppose the measure, with Florida billionaire investor Kenneth Griffin's $12 million contribution to the committee Keep Florida Clean accounting for the bulk of that.
In contrast, groups spending to support two Nebraska initiatives to legalize medical marijuana and create a commission overseeing the industry have raised less than $38,000. The sole committee supporting the measure is Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, fronted by California-based political consultant Jared Moffat. Groups opposing the measure have reported no spending as of October 28.
In California, Proposition 33 would repeal a state law prohibiting rent control on single-family homes and limit how much landlords can charge new renters. The committee Renters & Homeowners for Rent Control Yes on 33 has raised more than $40 million to support the measure.
Fueled by contributions from rental agencies and property managers, opponents of the measure have raised $67.2 million. Essex Properties, a Los Angeles-based property firm, contributed nearly $14 million to Californians For Responsible Housing, a committee spending to defeat the measure. Equity Residential, a real estate investment trust, contributed more than $10.5 million to the committee, which is sponsored by the California Apartment Association.
The California Apartment Association has also poured about $7.2 million to support Proposition 34, which would require certain healthcare providers to spend 98% of revenue on direct patient care. Although the measure appears to target multiple providers, specific language would only impact a single entity: the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The foundation has only spent $120,000 against the proposition.
CalMatters reported that the proposition is a continued battle between the California Apartment Association and AHF's president Michael Weinstein, who has steered the nonprofit into becoming one the biggest names in state and local housing politics.
Marriage Equality
The Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in Obergfel granted LGBTQ couples the right to marry and essentially made any state bans moot. However, such laws still exist and voters in three states will be asked whether to overturn the bans or not. Overturning the bans would enshrine the right to marry in the event of a Dobbs-like reversal from the court.
In California, Proposition 3 would amend the state's constitution and repeal Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in 2008. Yes for Marriage Equality has raised more than $2.2 million, including $1 million from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. There has been no reported spending in opposition to the repeal of Prop. 8.
Supporters of Colorado's Amendment J have raised more than $760,000 through Freedom to Marry Colorado, with no money being spent in opposition. Hawaii's Question 1 has not attracted spending on either side.
This story is provided as a service of the Institute for Nonprofit News' On the Ground news wire. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is a network of more than 475 independent, nonprofit newsrooms serving communities throughout the US, Canada, and globally. On the Ground is a service of INN, which aggregates the best of its members' elections and political content, and provides it free for republication. Read more about INN here: https://inn.org/.
