UPDATE: THURSDAY, NOV. 6 9:20a.m.
Efforts to require labeling of genetically engineered foods have gone 0 for 3 on the west coast, as Oregon's Measure 92 loses by a slim margin.
As of 8:01 Thursday morning, the Oregon Secretary of State's office showed the labeling measure at 49.7 percent yes t0 50.3 no, a margin of less than 10,000 votes, with more than 95 percent of the estimated votes counted.
On Wednesday morning, Yes on 92 organizers weren't ready to throw in the towel.
"We're still holding out hope at this point," spokesperson Sandeep Kaushik told JPR.
Kaushik noted there were still votes to be counted in Multnomah and Lane counties, areas where support for the measure was strong.
But while the measure gained some ground as more votes were counted overnight, by Thursday morning it became clear the yes side simply wouldn't be able to catch up.
The defeat of Measure 92 marks the third time in three years a GMO labeling proposal has been narrowly defeated on the west coast. Similar measures lost in California in 2012, and Washington in 2013.
The Measure 92 campaign was by far the most expensive in Oregon history, with a combined total of more than $28 million raised. Of the nearly $20.5 million raised by the No on 92 campaign, all but $1,110 came from out-of-state corporations. The Yes campaign's money was 78 percent from out of state, with just over 41 percent from corporations.
A similar labeling measure in Colorado was defeated last night.
Meanwhile, a ban on growing GMO crops was approved in Humboldt County, California, as well as in Maui County, Hawaii.
