Supporters of this measure (also on the ballot in Nebraska) are using Barack Obama's historic 2008 presidential campaign as proof that preferential treatment based on race and gender are no longer necessary. California, Washington and Michigan have already passed such measures. The nationwide effort to ban affirmative action hiring practices is being spearheaded and paid for by African-American businessman and former University of California regent Ward Connerly, who says he is opposed to preferential treatment based on race.