In a shocking display of overreach, unusual circumstances allowed a local California rule to establish a national standard. A 2020 Executive Order by Governor Gavin Newsom became a California policy mandating that by 2035, all new cars sold in the state must be electric vehicles (EVs). However, a special waiver, authorized under the Clean Air Act and issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allowed this rule to effectively become the new national standard.
Thankfully, West Virginia’s Senator Shelley Moore Capito understands that policies implemented in Sacramento shouldn’t be applied coast to coast. Capito fought hard last year to push back against this kind of overreach, arguing, rightly, that one state should not be able to dictate auto policy for the entire country. She introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) last year to undo this mandate, and successfully led a campaign to see it passed in both houses of the legislature and signed by President Trump. She successfully protected freedom, fairness, and the right of each state to choose its own path.
In her efforts, Senator Capito fought for the free market by ensuring that no single state has outsized power over the entire auto market. Drivers in West Virginia, or anywhere across the nation, should not be required to abide by rules implemented by a state with different geography, demographics, and priorities, two thousand miles away. Capito’s work underscores her commitment to federalism in free markets and the freedom of every American to decide what car works best for them.
Senator Capito knows that many West Virginians don’t live in luxury zip codes with access to EV chargers. For a majority of Americans, trading a gas-powered car for a $50,000 EV is not realistic. Increasing electricity costs only add to this burden. Transportation policy should always be centered around working families and the average American. Capito’s approach ensures that unilateral mandates don’t leave anyone behind.
On a larger scale, Capito’s resolution also demonstrated a commitment to fairness across the government. California’s EV mandate was not just a state setting targets for itself: legal shortcuts and bizarre expectations allowed it to impose restrictions on everyone, giving authority to aggressive regulators instead of elected officials and the voice of the American public. Capito’s stance rejects the imposition of one state’s agenda across all others, promoting equal footing for all 50 states.
Capito’s campaign helped pave the way for a broader policy shift. Following Capito’s work pushing against California’s nationwide EV mandate, the Trump Administration recently rolled back Biden-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards, which imposed unattainable standards that effectively resulted in an EV mandate. This reset of standards is a win for not just West Virginia, but also American families who rely on affordable, traditional vehicles to work, attend school, and bolster the economy. It aligns with what Capito has been working towards: restoring balance and defending state and consumer choice.
Those who support California’s mandate may argue that the rest of the country should simply abide by the new rules. However, Capito knows that leadership without consent is un-American. Forcing a one-size-fits-all policy is not our way: a country built on so many differences revolves around pluralism, consensus-building, preservation of free markets, and state autonomy.
Senator Capito’s pushback against California regulators isn’t a rejection of new technology and innovation: it’s a rejection of coercion. Senator Capito’s successful campaign to stop California’s EV mandate defends the right of West Virginia, every other state, and every single American family to decide how they drive and how they live their life.
