Ohio's Republican-controlled Legislature and Republican governor passed legislation earlier this year limiting the rights of public unions, but a coalition of unions and other Democratic leaders gather more than a million signatures to require that a referendum be held on the legislation.

Voters two-to-one rejected the legislation, which also would have forced public workers to pay a greater portion of their healthcare costs.

The legislation had been a top priority of Gov. Jon Kasich, who was elected year.

Tuesday's victory is likely to further galvanize labor unions across the country. They suffered a blow when Wisconsin was able to successfully pass legislation similar to Ohio's, but the vote in Ohio brings the momentum back in their favor.