SAN DIEGO — Voters overwhelmingly rejected a new stadium plan for the San Diego Chargers in early election results here late Tuesday night, casting the team’s future into doubt after 55 years in this sunny, seaside city.
The team’s ballot measure trailed 59.2% to 40.8%, with 46.6% of precincts reporting late Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from the Registrar of Voters in San Diego County.
Two win under current California law, the measure almost needs those numbers to reverse: Two-thirds of voters are required to approve it because it’s a tax hike for a specific purpose.
Without two-thirds approval, team owner Dean Spanos has until Jan. 15 to make a decision: Should he move the franchise to Los Angeles to share a lucrative new stadium with the Los Angeles Rams?
Or should he try for another stadium solution in San Diego even though there’s no clear or certain path to get one?
“If it’s under 50 percent, it’s probably a sign to look elsewhere,” said Andrew Brandt, a former executive with the…
