Housing on the ballot: How Americans across the country voted 

The 2026 midterm elections signified historic shifts among voters as Americans struggling with the high cost of living took their frustrations to the polls.

With Democrats now poised to take over both chambers of Congress and to hold governorships in a majority of U.S. states, it seems likely that politics will play out differently over the next two years compared with the first half of President Donald Trump's second term. But how those shifts will impact housing isn't immediately clear. 

"Surging mortgage rates caused the housing market to hit pause this fall, with buyers stepping back first and sellers following," Realtor.com Senior Economist Jake Krimmel said. "Jumpstarting the housing market relies on a calmer geopolitical environment and bond market in the short run and more housing supply plus a more dynamic labor market in the long run."

But the federal government alone doesn't dictate housing policy. This year, 10 states had statewide housing-related initiatives on their ballots, according to Shelterforce. Local housing-related initiatives were on the ballot in 11 states, and four states presented voters with both local and statewide measures.

As of Wednesday morning, votes across the country were still being counted. But The Associated Press has already made calls on most statewide measures. These are the results.

California

• Proposition 1: Californians voted yes, allowing the issuance of $11.25 billion by the state for housing affordability programs. It's "a modest attempt to plug" the state's financing gap for these projects, according to Realtor.com Senior Economist Joel Berner, but "bond money does not shorten approval times or reduce land acquisition costs, so it's only one piece of the puzzle."

• Proposition 37: California voted yes, allowing the creation of a fixed-rate mortgage loan program for qualifying middle-income homebuyers. This "could be a boon to the new home segment of sales" in the state, Berner said, but the "complicating factor" is that the measure doesn't provide a solution for California's housing shortage.

• Proposition 45: This race has not yet been called. If approved, the measure would hasten the environmental review process for homebuilding and other construction projects.

Florida

Amendment 3: Florida voted yes to approve a new state constitutional amendment increasing the homestead tax exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 in 2028. The amendment "would provide major relief from the non-school property tax burdens its citizens face," Berner said. With homeowners insurance costs and HOA fees rising across the state, "any relief from the annual carrying costs of owning a home in Florida is welcome."

Hawaii

Question 2: This race has not yet been called. If approved, the state constitution will be amended, allowing the state legislature to permit counties to grant housing infrastructure growth bonds.

Louisiana

• Amendment 1: Louisiana voted yes to approve a new state constitutional amendment allowing the widow of a disabled veteran to transfer their property tax exemption to a new home.

• Amendment 6: Louisiana voted yes to approve a new state constitutional amendment allowing qualifying seniors a property tax exemption of up to $30,000.

• Amendment 9: Louisiana voted yes to approve a new state constitutional amendment raising the income limit from $100,000 to $150,000 for qualifying homeowners to receive a special property tax assessment.

Massachusetts

Question 7: This race has not yet been called. If approved, it would allow single-family homes to be built on smaller lot sizes in residential zoning districts.

North Carolina

Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment: North Carolina voted for the amendment, allowing the requirement of limits on property tax increases.

Oklahoma

Question 847: Oklahoma voted no, retaining the state's existing limits on property value increases.

Rhode Island

Question 2: Rhode Island voted to approve authorization of $120 million in bonds to support new affordable housing.

Tennessee

Amendment 2: Tennessee voted yes, allowing the state constitution to be amended to block the state legislature from introducing a property tax.

Wyoming

Initiative 1: Wyoming voted against the proposal, which would have created a property tax exemption worth 50% of a home's value for a homeowner's primary residence.