Introduction

Voters decided more than 150 state ballot measures across the country Tuesday, and out-of-state billionaires’ bets on some of the highest profile initiatives mostly paid off.

At least 25 remote tycoons made sizable contributions to the $1.12 billion raised nationwide for state ballot measure campaigns.

Combined, those billionaires gave more than $70 million to campaigns in 19 states, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis published Oct. 18. At least another $7.2 million came from billionaires to campaigns in their home states.

Voters agreed with at least 14 out of 22 ballot measure campaigns backed by billionaires from other states, with one Utah measure to create an independent redistricting commission still too close to call.

Billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Policy Center celebrated success in five of the nine ballot measure campaigns it supported, including a Louisiana measure to require unanimous jury verdicts for felony convictions and a Florida measure to restore voting rights to felons.

“These ballot initiatives demonstrate the importance of direct democracy in reflecting the voice of the people, and advancing the values of justice, equality, transparency and accountability,” said Bill Vandenberg, who directs Open Society’s state work.

But some cash-flush, billionaire-backed ballot measure campaigns did fall short, including Ohio’s Issue One to reduce many drug felonies to misdemeanors and Arizona’s Proposition 127 to require utilities to use more renewable energy. The Ohio measure was backed by Soros, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and more; the Arizona measure campaign was funded by California billionaire Tom Steyer.

Here’s where billionaires put their ballot measure money and how they fared:

Billionaire State of Measure Measure Measure summary Position Amount Non-resident Billionaire position won? Measure outcome Ben Walton Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $250,000 Yes Yes Passed Cale Bonderman Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $700,000 Yes Yes Passed Carrie Penner Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $50,000 Yes Yes Passed Connie Ballmer Washington Initiative 1639 Increase restrictions on gun ownership. Yes $500,000 No Yes Passed Daniel Lewis Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $500,000 No Yes Passed Django Bonderman Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $500,000 Yes Yes Passed Dustin Moskovitz/Cari Tuna Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $750,000 Yes Yes Passed Dustin Moskovitz/Cari Tuna Ohio Issue 1 Reduce many drug felonies to misdemeanors and change other drug laws Yes $1,000,000 Yes No Failed Geoff Palmer California Prop 10 Allow local governments to adopt rent control. No $2,000,000 No Yes Failed George Soros Missouri Amendment 1 Change the state’s campaign finance, lobbying and redistricting laws. Yes $550,000 Yes Yes Passed George Soros Louisiana Amendment 2 Require unanimous jury decisions to convict on a felony charge. Yes $420,000 Yes Yes Passed George Soros Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $1,500,000 Yes Yes Passed George Soros Washington Initiative 940 Broaden police liability for use of deadly force and add police training requirements. Yes $230,000 Yes Yes Passed George Soros Ohio Issue 1 Reduce many drug felonies to misdemeanors and change other drug laws Yes $1,500,000 Yes No Failed George Soros Oregon Measure 105 Repeal the law that makes Oregon a “sanctuary state.” No $180,000 Yes Yes Failed George Soros California Prop 10 Allow local governments to adopt rent control. Yes $300,000 Yes No Failed George Soros Maine Question 1 Enact taxes to pay for home care for seniors. Yes $200,000 Yes No Failed George Soros North Carolina Voter ID Amendment Amend state constitution to require photo ID to vote in person No $500,000 Yes No Passed Greg Penner Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $50,000 Yes Yes Passed Henry Nicholas Georgia Amendment 4 Enact a crime victims’ bill of rights. Yes $8,300,000 Yes Yes Passed Henry Nicholas Florida Amendment 6 Enact a crime victims’ bill of rights. Yes $30,370,000 Yes Yes Passed Henry Nicholas Kentucky Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment Enact a crime victims’ bill of rights. Yes $4,885,000 Yes Yes Passed Henry Nicholas Nevada Question 1 Enact a crime victims’ bill of rights. Yes $645,000 Yes Yes Passed Henry Nicholas Oklahoma Question 794 Enact a crime victims’ bill of rights. Yes $900,000 Yes Yes Passed James Simons Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $300,000 Yes Yes Passed John Arnold/Laura Arnold Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $250,000 Yes Yes Passed John Arnold/Laura Arnold Michigan Prop 2 Create an independent redistricting commission. Yes $250,000 Yes Yes Passed John Arnold/Laura Arnold Utah Prop 4 Create an independent redistricting commission. Yes $608,153 Yes Yes* Passed* John Childs Alaska Measure 1 Protect salmon habitats. Yes $200,000 Yes No Failed Laurie Michaels Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $800,000 Yes Yes Passed Leslie Hanauer Washington Initiative 1639 Increase restrictions on gun ownership. Yes $613,018 No Yes Passed Liz Simons Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $700,000 Yes Yes Passed Mark Zuckerberg/Priscilla Chan Ohio Issue 1 Reduce many drug felonies to misdemeanors and change other drug laws Yes $1,000,000 Yes No Failed Mark Zuckerberg/Priscilla Chan California Prop 1&2 Authorize $4 billion for affordable-housing programs. Yes $250,000 No Yes Passed Michael Bloomberg Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $500,000 Yes Yes Passed Nicholas Pritzker Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $250,000 Yes Yes Passed Nick Hanauer Washington Initiative 1639 Increase restrictions on gun ownership. Yes $613,018 No Yes Passed Nick Hanauer Washington Initiative 940 Broaden police liability for use of deadly force and add police training requirements. Yes $250,000 No Yes Passed Pat Stryker Colorado Amendment Y, Z Create independent commissions for redistricting. Yes $600,000 No Yes Passed Paul Allen Washington Initiative 1639 Increase restrictions on gun ownership. Yes $1,226,036 No Yes Passed Richard Uihlein Massachusetts Question 3 Uphold current law banning discrimination based on gender identity. No $10,000 Yes No Passed Samantha Holloway Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $500,000 Yes Yes Passed Seth Klarman Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $250,000 Yes Yes Passed Seth Klarman Massachusetts Question 3 Uphold current law banning discrimination based on gender identity. Yes $200,000 No Yes Passed Stacy Schusterman Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $500,000 Yes Yes Passed Steven Ballmer Washington Initiative 1639 Increase restrictions on gun ownership. Yes $500,000 No Yes Passed Tom Steyer Arizona Prop 127 Require electric utilities to use more renewable energy. Yes $8,257,347 Yes No Failed Tom Steyer Nevada Question 6 Require electric utilities to use more renewable energy. Yes $1,900,000 Yes Yes Passed Zoe Bonderman Florida Amendment 4 Restore felon voting rights. Yes $700,000 Yes Yes Passed

Source: State records; Ballotpedia; Open Society Foundations.*Utah Proposition 4 was passing as of midday Wednesday by a narrow margin, but not all precincts had reported.