Yes 53%
No 47%
Expanded health care to 150,000 people
Yes 60%
No 40%
Expanded health care to 90,000 people
Yes 62%
No 38%
Raised the minimum wage for 677,000 people
2018 ballot initiative led to passage of a $15 an hour minimum wage
Raised the wage for 840,000 people
2018 ballot initiative led to passage of paid sick leave.
Delivered sick leave to 2 million people
Yes 53%
No 47%
Expanded health care to 90,000 people
Yes 77%
No 23%
Halted abusive pay day lending practices
Yes 68%
No 32%
Raised the minimum wage for 300,000 people
2018 ballot initiative led to passage of paid sick leave in San Antonio.
Delivered sick leave to 354,000 people
Since 2016, no organization has a better track record of delivering results for workers at the ballot box. The Fairness Project has now won 16 out of its 17 statewide ballot campaigns, delivering health care improvements for low-income Americans and putting more than $7 billion into the pockets of workers through our efforts to raise the minimum wage.
In 2018, our movement for change nearly doubled in scope, and we took the fight for health care and economic fairness into red states like Utah, Nebraska, Idaho, Arkansas and Missouri where we demonstrated how much Americans support progressive economic and health care policies across the country.
As a result of ballot initiatives this year, more than 330,000 Americans gained access to health care through Medicaid and two million more will get a pay raise through new minimum wage increases.
Since 2016, no organization has a better track record of delivering results for workers at the ballot box. The Fairness Project has now won 16 out of its 17 statewide ballot campaigns, delivering health care and leave improvements for low-income Americans while putting billions into the pockets of workers. In just three years, we’ve delivered change for 15 million Americans, and we’re just getting started. Click on a state to learn more about our work.
“People who can’t afford to put food on the table or go see a doctor don’t have time to wait for politicians to solve our problems. We need real change, and we need it now. That’s why ballot initiatives are so important. They deliver results for families like mine.”
Deborah Drake, Teacher's Aide, St. Louis, MO
“We can’t build a strong economy on a falling wage floor. Workers are also consumers, and businesses need customers who can afford what they are selling. The success of ballot measures in Red states in 2014 sent a clear message: Americans across the political spectrum want to raise the minimum wage. We look forward to partnering with The Fairness Project in states where broad coalitions including business can work together to raise the minimum wage and grow jobs.”
Holly Sklar, CEO, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage
“Winning Medicaid expansion in red states like Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska was a complete game changer in the fight to expand health care, and none of it would have been possible without The Fairness Project. The message was simple, but poignant—Americans everywhere in this country want more health care —not less.”
Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
“Ballot initiatives are an important tool that empower voters when Congress and state legislators have lost sight of the needs of our working families. We welcome The Fairness Project’s focus and effort to bolster minimum wage ballot initiatives and ensure voters can take another step toward economic security in their own lives and communities.”
Paul Sonn, General Council and Program Director, National Employment Law Project
“Our partnership with The Fairness Project is the reason 90,000 more Nebraskans have health care. It brought together grassroots support, national resources and expertise, and a top-notch campaign team. It’s a model that works, and it’s one that I’d like to see us use again to make even more progress.”
Nebraska State Sen. Adam Morfeld
“Creating systematic change isn’t easy. It doesn’t happen by mistake and can’t be created by one person or group. We are excited to work alongside The Fairness Project to support pro-worker and pro economic justice ballot initiatives that are happening across the nation.”
Brian Kettenring, Co-Executive Director, Center for Popular Democracy
By: Jonathan Schleifer, executive director of The Fairness Project Over the past two years, Americans have sent elected officials one message that could not be ...
The New Year is off to a fruitful start for millions of Americans. Some 5.3 million workers will be receiving higher pay starting Jan. 1 ...
The victories — which bring to 36 the number of states that have elected to expand Medicaid coverage — were the product of a model ...
Voters in three traditionally Republican states supported ballot measures to extend Medicaid benefits to more low-income adults. The results highlight the divide between voters, even ...