One of California’s most ardent gas tax supporters got the boot in a recall election, eliminating the Democratic supermajority in the state senate and demonstrating voters’ unhappiness with California’s costly gas tax.
While all Americans are dealing with increasing gas prices, California residents are dealing with the highest rates in the country. AAA currently shows The Golden State paying an average of $3.73 per gallon, more than any other state.
The rate is even higher when the state’s major cities are included. Like the rest of the U.S., California is facing higher prices because of a litany of geopolitical and national issues. However, pain at the pump is harsher because of a very unpopular gas tax passed by state legislators.
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a gas tax bill that was meant to raise funds for new road and bridge construction in April 2017. The law officially went into effect in November, charging an extra 12 cents per gallon and sending California drivers into a frenzy. A repeal campaign has been underway and it has claimed its first win.
Josh Newman — a Democratic state senator from Orange County and a major supporter of the gas tax — was recalled Tuesday night and replaced with former Republican assemblywoman Ling-Ling Chang.
The vote was pretty overwhelming, with nearly two-thirds of voters choosing to recall Newman. A last-minute endorsement from Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont did not appear to help his re-election efforts. Newman’s defeat was part of a wider GOP-led campaign to repeal the gas tax. The issue will likely be on the November ballot.
Despite the overwhelming outcome, Newman has been reluctant to concede the race. Upon publication of this article, no mention of concession has appeared on Newman’s Twitter, Facebook or official website page.
Derek Humphrey, a Newman spokesman, said the early numbers were “not what we were hoping for,” but stopped short of admitting defeat. Humphrey also termed the recall election “an undemocratic special interest power grab.”
Newman’s defeat carries extra weight in that it ends the Democratic Party’s supermajority in the California state senate.
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When November rolls around its time to show the democrats the door and they better hope it don’t hit them in the rear as their leaving
That 12cent/gallon tax isn’t merely 12 cents, the tax was subtly indexed to inflation so that it can be raised with inflation each year. This portion of the bill hasn’t gotten much airplay, but it’s an insidious act by the CA politicians. Which is why the Recall Newman campaign went so well and the coming Repeal the Car Tax initiative in November could bring out a lot of right-leaning anger against the clueless leftists.