When wage increases are on the ballot, voters usually say yes. That was the case in multiple states with one notable loss in Portland, Maine. Meanwhile, Illinois cemented collective bargaining rights into its constitution, and Tennessee will bake right-to-work law into its own.

Here’s how the 2022 midterm election played out for workers across the country.

Minimum wage increases

Nebraska: Initiative Measure 433

Ballot result: Passed.

Details: A minimum wage hike that will increase incrementally from $9 per hour to $15 per hour by Jan. 1, 2026.

Nevada: Question No. 2

Ballot result: Pending.

Details: A minimum wage hike to $12 per hour by July 1, 2024. This increase applies to all workers regardless of whether their employers offer health insurance.

If the measure fails, workers are still set to receive an increase by July 1, 2024. Workers whose employers offer health benefits will see wages increase from $9.50 per hour to $11 per hour. Workers whose employers don’t offer health benefits will see wages increase from $10.50 per hour to $12 per hour.

Portland, Maine: Question D

Ballot result: Failed.

Details: The Act to Eliminate the Sub-Minimum Wage, Increase Minimum Wages and Strengthen Protections for Workers would have increased the minimum wage from $13 per hour to $18 per hour over the next three years.

The proposed $18-an-hour minimum would have also applied to tipped service workers, nearly tripling their current minimum wage of $6.50 per hour. With that hike,...

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