A suite of recent surveys covering Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio and Montana make clear voters are solidly opposed to government policies seeking to ban new gas cars. Collectively, opposition to gas car bans in these states is even higher than among registered voters nationally. Key findings are as follows:
Key findings and survey information:
From late 2023 to early 2024, AFPM questions gauging voter awareness, sentiment and likeliness to support candidates based on gas car ban policies were fielded as part of omnibus surveys in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio and Montana. The findings from each state, compared to a national baseline, are as follows:
Wisconsin*
- Awareness: 76% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 64% oppose gas car bans. Only 32% support. The remainder, 4%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 57% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Michigan
- Awareness: 61% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 87% oppose gas car bans. Only 8% support. The remainder, 5%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 79% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Pennsylvania*
- Awareness: 90% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 57% oppose gas car bans. Only 32% support. The remainder, 11%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 58% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Arizona
- Awareness: 80% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 61% oppose gas car bans. Only 16% support. The remainder, 23%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 58% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Nevada
- Awareness: 78% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 61% oppose gas car bans. Only 14% support. The remainder, 25%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 56% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Ohio
- Awareness: 84% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 66% oppose gas car bans. Only 11% support. The remainder, 23%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 61% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
Montana
- Awareness: 83% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 74% oppose gas car bans. Only 9% support. The remainder, 17%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 69% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans
National baseline*
- Awareness: 73% of voters have heard either “nothing” or “just some” about gas car bans.
- Opposition: 60% oppose gas car bans. Only 22% support. The remainder, 18%, are unsure.
- Less likely to support candidates: 56% are less likely to support candidates who favor gas car bans.
What about gas car ban policies is resonating with the public?
When discussing gas car ban policies and their potential impacts, the public responds strongly to three primary points:
- The role of the President and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in proliferating policy to effectively ban gas cars.
- The notion that vehicle policy needs to work for everyone, but electric vehicles simply don’t make sense for every American.
- The perception that bans are an extreme example of government overreach and that politicians should not be the ones telling consumers what kinds of cars they can buy.
About the surveys:
From late 2023 to early 2024, surveys with questions gauging voter awareness, sentiment and likeliness to support candidates based on gas car ban policies were fielded in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio and Montana.
*The national, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania surveys asked a slightly different question—specific to EPA’s model year 2027-2032 GHG tailpipe proposal—to gauge support or opposition to the policy. The remainder of states received a more general question.
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is the leading trade association representing the makers of the fuels that keep us moving, the petrochemicals that are the essential building blocks for modern life, and the midstream companies that get our feedstocks and products where they need to go. We make the products that make life better, safer and more sustainable — we make progress.
