Same-sex marriage ban wins

"After a heated, divisive campaign, fueled by a record $73 million of spending, California voters backed Proposition 8, which would change the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage."

Similar measures passed in Arizona and Florida, by a 2-1 margin in the latter. On a similar issue, Arkansas voted to ban gay couples from adopting children.

The gay issues stood alone against the liberal tide and did not represent any kind of a nationwide conservative or evangelical trend. California and two other states voted on props which would restrict abortion, for example, and all were smacked down.