Senate Votes to End California’s Gas Car Ban

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res 88 by a vote of 51–44, striking down California’s radical attempt to eliminate gas-powered vehicles. This resolution blocks the EPA’s Clean Air Act waiver that would have allowed California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule to move forward — a regulation that sought to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks and impose de facto electric vehicle (EV) mandates across the country.

Why This Matters to Delaware

While this legislation originated in California, its impact stretched far beyond the West Coast. Thanks to regulatory ties, 17 other states — including Delaware — were poised to adopt these extreme restrictions, whether their citizens supported them or not.

This vote is a win for common sense, energy freedom, and working Americans.

Delawareans already face some of the highest energy prices on the East Coast. The idea of being forced into expensive EVs, with limited charging infrastructure and uncertain performance in cold weather, is deeply out of step with the needs of rural, suburban, and working-class families throughout our state.

The California ban would have raised the cost of all new vehicles, making it harder for Delaware families to afford the cars and trucks they rely on for work, errands, and daily life. It would have also disproportionately hurt small businesses, farmers, and tradespeople who depend on gas-powered vehicles for their livelihoods.

With this Senate vote, Congress has taken a stand against backdoor mandates and bureaucratic overreach.

Republican Leadership Protects Choice

As American Energy Alliance President Thomas Pyle stated, “This vote isn’t just about cars — it’s about preserving freedom, mobility, and convenience for American families.”

The Biden administration’s willingness to hand power to unelected California regulators was an affront to federalism and consumer freedom.

President Trump’s expected signature will mark a turning point in energy and transportation policy. Instead of punishing consumers and rewarding elite climate ideologues, Republicans are restoring the right of Americans — and Delawareans — to choose the vehicles that best fit their needs and budgets.

What’s Next?

H.J. Res 88 now heads to President Trump’s desk, where it’s expected to be signed into law. Once finalized, this resolution will shut the door on California-style mandates and prevent the federal government from imposing them through regulatory loopholes.

Delawareans should not be dragged along with harmful policies they never voted for — the decision over the cars we drive should rest with us, not unelected officials in Sacramento or Washington.