WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new survey from the non-partisan Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, Inc. finds nearly 60 percent of Virginians believe the General Assembly should repeal the 2021 law that imposes California’s new car mandates on the Commonwealth. Only 30 percent are against repeal.
In fact, “should repeal” performed higher than “should not repeal” in every region and across every political and demographic category surveyed. Virginia House Bill 3, legislation introduced by Delegate Tony Wilt to repeal the 2021 law, is already being reported as a key policy to watch in the upcoming session.
“This survey highlights Virginians’ strong opposition to California’s electric vehicle mandate, a policy that will require banning the sale of new gasoline, diesel, flex fuel and traditional hybrid vehicles,” said AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson. “Consumers and Virginia families—not government—should be the ones deciding what vehicles best meet their needs and budgets. We hope the General Assembly listens to the people of Virginia and repeals the 2021 law in the coming weeks.”
Additional key findings include:
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Of the registered voters surveyed, a majority of Independents (54 percent to 35 percent) and Republicans (74 percent to 14 percent) favor repeal of the 2021 law as do a plurality of Virginia Democrats (45 percent to 38 percent).
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Across the Commonwealth, only 30 percent believe the law and its forthcoming ban on sales of new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles should remain in place.
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Strong majorities in five of six Virginia regions favor repeal, ranging from 58 percent supporting repeal in the Richmond metro area and Hampton Roads to 73 percent favoring repeal in Roanoke and the Southwest. Even in Northern Virginia, a strong plurality (47 percent) believes the 2021 policy should be repealed.
About the survey:
The Mason-Dixon survey, an omnibus survey fielded December 15 to December 19 across Virginia, included two questions from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM): one gauging awareness of the 2021 law requiring Virginia to follow California’s new vehicle mandates, including its ban on sales of new gasoline and diesel vehicles, and a second asking whether the General Assembly should repeal the policy (see both below).
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.
