(November 9, 2016, 12:01 PM EST) -- SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California referendum that was intended to kill the state’s proposed WaterFix project was listed by the California State Department on Nov. 8 as having been defeated by 51.5 percent of the vote.

Proposition 53 asked if the statewide voter approval should be required for bond issues over $2 billion.  Proponents said they intended the law to defeat bond issue funding for the WaterFix, which otherwise could have been approved by the state or municipalities.

According to the secretary of State’s website, with...