SACRAMENTO, California — California gubernatorial front-runner Xavier Becerra said Tuesday that he still believes the state can meet its goal of banning new gas car sales by 2035, after raising doubts about the climate target during his primary campaign.
Becerra said that California “might be able to beat” the 2035 target in response to a question from POLITICO’S Melanie Mason during an interview at POLITICO’s The California Agenda: Sacramento Summit.
“If we invest in it, it absolutely is feasible,” Becerra said. “If we don’t invest in the infrastructure, then it’s not easy.”
The answer adds more nuance to the former health secretary and state attorney general’s position on California’s EV sales mandate, a key piece of the state’s climate agenda. Gov. Gavin Newsom created the mandate with an executive order in 2020.
