Californian Republican party in blanket sports betting ballot measure veto

California’s Republican party (CAGOP) has seemingly cemented its opposition to any and all measures to bring legalized sports betting to the Golden State, outlining a negative stance on both ballot initiatives.

In meetings taking place late last week, the party, which currently plays second fiddle to the ruling Democratic Party, debated four separate constitutional initiatives due to be put to state-wide ballot in November.

The party holds just nine seats in the California Senate and 19 seats in the state’s Assembly.

Party members voted to oppose proposition 1, which would prohibit the state from interfering with or denying an individual’s reproductive freedom, while outlining a position of neutrality on ballot proposition 28, which increases funding for arts and music in the state.

Of the two propositions concerning sports betting, Republicans have said they will oppose proposition 26, a tribal casino operator-backed measure giving the tribes exclusivity on sports betting.

California’s ruling Democratic Party has previously suggested its neutrality on the ballot measure, however recent statements released by advocates for proposition 26 have suggested the move towards opposition.

In respect of proposition 27, a multi-operator-backed initiative aiming to expand sports betting to out-of-state and mobile sportsbook operators, the Republican Party has also voted to oppose this proposition, a move which leaves the ballot initiative without high-profile political backing.

Republican politicians including Senate Republican leader Scott Wilk and Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher are among those previously voicing their opposition to proposition 27, on the grounds that tribal rights would be threatened.

These opinions have now been backed up by a unified party declaration.

“In 2020, voters were with the California Republican Party on seven of the 11 ballot initiatives in which we took a position,” CAGOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said in a release confirming the party’s stance.

“Voters are with Republicans on the ideas, and with our final ballot initiative positions now in place, we are ready to put in the work to ensure that voters are with us again this November.

“From now until polls close, we will be talking to voters about these important initiatives, about our top-notch slate of Republican candidates, and about what’s at stake in this election following years of Democrats’ failed one-party rule in California,” Millan Patterson added.

Voting on all pre-approved ballot initiatives takes place on November 8.