{"id":937,"date":"2026-06-01T04:12:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T04:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=937"},"modified":"2026-06-01T04:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T04:12:25","slug":"leading-dem-california-governor-candidate-announces-massive-break-with-the-left-on-key-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=937","title":{"rendered":"Leading Dem California governor candidate announces massive break with the Left on key policy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cYou need Chevron, I need Chevron.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the message from Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra, who\u2019s making waves by breaking with the left on one of California\u2019s most ambitious climate policies \u2014 as he refuses to fully back the state\u2019s plan to phase out new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035.<\/p>\n

Read more Another video surfaces of weirdos climbing out of NYC sewer manhole and no one knows what they were doing<\/a><\/p>\n

The former Health and Human Services secretary, who leads polling ahead of the June 2 primary to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, stopped short of endorsing the state\u2019s target to ban new gas and hybrid vehicle purchases starting in 2035.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia should transition from gas-powered vehicles when it makes sense \u2014 when infrastructure and affordability are there for California families,\u201d Becerra wrote in response to a POLITICO survey.<\/p>\n

His comments are the latest sign of a more moderate approach to climate policy as affordability concerns increasingly dominate California politics.<\/p>\n

Becerra later elaborated in an interview, explaining that California\u2019s move away from fossil fuels hinges on unpredictable factors like federal backing, automaker collaboration, and the state\u2019s financial health.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not going to live in a world that\u2019s make-believe,\u201d Becerra said. \u201cIf you could tell me where those things are, I could give you a much more precise answer. And if anyone says they can give you that answer, then they\u2019re just making a lot of inflated promises.\u201d<\/p>\n

In major contrast to Newsom\u2019s hallmark policies, Becerra\u2019s stance opposes the 2020 mandate that forced regulators to tighten emissions standards and fast-track California\u2019s shift to electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like Becerra is trying to make sure he has wiggle room on these affordability issues,\u201d Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta told POLITICO. \u201cBecause if you do a hard phase out of gas cars, there are a lot of people who can\u2019t afford to buy an EV tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite scaling back on other climate goals, Newsom stood by the 2035 target, reaffirming California\u2019s EV commitment immediately after the Trump administration eliminated the $7,500 federal tax credit.<\/p>\n

Read more Trump sends amended peace plan back to Iran with tough stance on nuclear materials, Hormuz:\u00a0reports<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t let this illegal action by Trump and Republicans in the pockets of polluters stand in the way of commonsense policy to clean our air, protect the health of our kids, and compete on the global stage,\u201d Newsom said.<\/p>\n

Becerra\u2019s position has opened a line of attack for billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer \u2014 his Democratic rival \u2014 in the closing days of the campaign. Steyer has labeled the former attorney general \u201cBig Oil Becerra\u201d and slammed his acceptance of oil industry donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom is committed to California\u2019s ambitious climate goals, and will work to overcome hurdles to the state\u2019s 2035 target,\u201d Steyer spokesperson Kevin Liao said. \u201cAs governor, Tom will triple the state\u2019s EV tax credit, ensuring working and middle-class households can actually afford the transition to the latest electric vehicle technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Becerra\u2019s stance has alarmed clean transportation advocates, who warn that stepping back from California\u2019s EV goals could worsen pollution and tarnish the state\u2019s image as a climate leader.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s all part of why it\u2019s disconcerting and disappointing,\u201d said Dan Sperling, director emeritus of UC Davis\u2019 Institute of Transportation Studies and a former member of the California Air Resources Board.<\/p>\n

Others believe Becerra\u2019s concerns highlight the real-world challenges facing whoever succeeds Newsom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really important to have a goal, but a goal doesn\u2019t magically make things happen,\u201d said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California state director for the Environmental Defense Fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anything, it\u2019s the easiest step, and now we have to actually do the funding work, the policy work, and the coalition building to make it happen. And that goes for whoever the next governor is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Yankees erupt for wild 13-run third inning that lasts 43 minutes \u2014 and didn\u2019t even need a home run<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou need Chevron, I need Chevron.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metro"],"yoast_head":"\nLeading Dem California governor candidate announces massive break with the Left on key policy - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=937\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Leading Dem California governor candidate announces massive break with the Left on key policy - Metro Transit Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cYou need Chevron, I need Chevron.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=937\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Metro Transit Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-01T04:12:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7cd7bd9683106710eed62ba5da559b14\"},\"headline\":\"Leading Dem California governor candidate announces massive break with the Left on key policy\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-01T04:12:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937\"},\"wordCount\":682,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/4bc249a6ec8fe0ffdfe986397b5369ed.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Metro\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/metrotransitreview.com\\\/?p=937\",\"name\":\"Leading Dem California governor candidate announces massive break with the Left on key policy - 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