California has put forward a ballot proposal that would levy a tax on billionaires’ net worth, and leading Democrats and wealthy backers are joining forces to oppose it. Multiple outlets report that the campaign against the measure is being treated as one of the most expensive ballot fights in California’s history, with substantial spending coming from high-net-worth individuals and their allies.

ABC News characterizes the proposal as a first-of-its-kind effort that could test voters’ willingness to support a wealth tax on the ultra-rich. Other coverage highlights that opposition is not limited to business figures; some prominent Democratic politicians and allies are also involved in the fight, suggesting the debate cuts across typical party or ideological lines. While the sources focus on the scale and the coalitions behind the opposition, they also frame the measure as a broader test of public support for wealth-based taxation.

Overall, outlets agree on the central point: a California billionaire net-worth tax faces organized resistance from both affluent donors and select Democratic figures, with the outcome seen as potentially influential for future discussions about wealth taxes.