Statewide it was no, no, no, no for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ballot initiatives. In Nevada County the response to the governor’s “reform” plan was more mixed.

Voters in the state overwhelmingly defeated Proposition 76, the governor’s centerpiece proposal to slow the growth of state spending, and Proposition 77, which would have redrawn legislative and congressional districts.

In Nevada County Proposition 76 followed the state, narrowly failing with 12,765 voters against and 12,245 in favor. Proposition 77, however received 51.35 percent of ballots cast, according to the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder’s unofficial results with all precincts, including Truckee, reporting.

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Failing statewide by slimmer margins were Proposition 74, a plan to make teachers work longer to achieve tenure, and Proposition 75, which would have restricted political spending by public employee unions.

Nevada County went against the grain on both 74 and 75. Proposition 74 passed handily with 13,857 yes votes compared to 11,263 no votes. Proposition 75 took 56 percent of the vote.

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The contest represented the biggest test yet of a faltering Schwarzenegger’s leadership – and the outcome clouds his chances of winning a second term next year.

Poll after poll showed it was an election that Californians didn’t want, including a few voters who were asked outside polling stations in Truckee on Tuesday.

“I’m against them all,” Donna Jones said of the eight propositions on the ballot. “I think the cost of the election was something that we didn’t need and couldn’t afford.”

And voters in the state carried their displeasure to a ballot that had four other propositions. Proposals on energy regulation, Proposition 80, and prescription drug costs, Propositions 78 and 79 were easily defeated. That was the case in the county as well, with 68 percent of the voters against Proposition 80 and 58.5 percent and 64 percent against Propositions 78 and 79 respectively.

Proposition 73, a measure calling for a Waiting period and parental notification before termination of minor’s pregnancy, was defeated statewide and in the county by 333 votes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.