Election Day 2013: Results on Key Progressive Issues
Some victories, some failures as progressives tally the returns
Ahead of Tuesday's election day, Common Dreams highlighted several notable politicial races, ballot issues, and local referendum that might be of special interest to our progressive-minded readers.
What follows are the election results of those races.
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Washington state: GMO labeling law (I-522)
"Food safety advocates pushed the measure so that foods containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, would be labeled as such for retail purposes in the state."
Result: Measure defeated.* [Official results]
Read more here and here.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 45.2% | 54.8% |
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Tar Sands Showdown in South Portland, Maine
Environmentalists faced off with the fossil fuel industry in the small coastal town of South Portland. At issue is the Waterfront Protection Ordinance (WPO), a land-use zoning ordinance up for referendum Tuesday that would prevent oil industry efforts to build a massive tar sands export facility
Result: WPO defeated.
Read more here.
| FOR | AGAINST |
|---|---|
| 49% | 51% |
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Legalization of recreational marijuana across four U.S. cities
Ballot proposals in three Michigan cities, Lansing, Jackson and Ferndale, would amend city charters to legalize the use or possession of up to one ounce of marijuana on private property by anyone 21 years or older. In Portland, Maine, a similar measure would allow for the legal possession of up to 2.5 ounces.
Consensus: All cities approved their measures.
Portland, Maine
Results: Measure passed.
Read more here.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 67% | 33% |
Lansing, Mich.
Results: Measure passed.
Read more here.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 63% | 37% |
Jackson, Mich.
Results: Measure passed.
Read more here.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 60 | 40% |
Ferndale, Mich.
Results: Measure passed.
Read more heree.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 69% | 31% |
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New York City Mayoral Race
The race to succeed billionaire Mayor Bloomberg pitted Democrat Bill de Blasio against Republican Joe Lhota.
Result: Bill de Blasio wins election.
Read more here.
| de Blasio | Lhota |
|---|---|
| 73.3% | 24.3% |
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Colorado's Proposition AA: The Marijuana Tax
Marijuana has been legal in Colorado for a year, and a new measure sought a 15 percent excise tax, and 10 percent sales tax on the product.
Result: Measure passed.
Read more here.
| YES | NO |
|---|---|
| 65% | 35% |
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Fracking Fight in Colorado Pits Big Energy Against Citizens and Environment
Anti-fracking opponents have placed measures on ballots in four cities in Colorado--Boulder, Broomfield, Fort Collins and Lafayette.
Result: Three towns approved their measure. One town, Broomfield, failed to pass their measure.
Read more here and here.
| YES | NO | |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 77% | 33% |
| Broomfield | 49% | 51% |
| Fort Collins | 55% | 45% |
| Lafayette | 58% | 42% |
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