Representative Lou Correa, a Democrat from Orange County, California, has been a vocal advocate for tackling climate change. However, he recently joined 34 other Democrats in voting to repeal California’s groundbreaking mandate requiring all new vehicles sold in the state to be electric or nonpolluting by 2035.
The decision, which was supported by Republicans, has been met with criticism from environmentalists who argue that it undermines the nation’s efforts to transition away from gasoline-powered cars. Correa defended his vote, stating that electric vehicles remain too expensive and impractical for many of his constituents in the heavily blue-collar district.
“I don’t like giving Trump a win,” Correa said in an interview. “But I’m listening to my constituents who are saying ‘don’t kill us.'” He emphasized that the concerns of working-class and middle-class individuals, who were a key focus during the recent election, drove his decision.
The House vote, which passed 246-164, has raised questions about the unity among Democrats on climate policies. In recent years, the party has generally supported stronger measures to address global warming. Environmentalists are struggling to understand why nearly three dozen Democrats chose to side with Republicans on this issue.
Some speculate that intense lobbying and worries about rising prices amid the Trump administration’s trade wars may be contributing to the potential fracture in Democratic unity on climate issues. As the debate over climate policies continues, lawmakers like Correa face the challenge of balancing environmental concerns with the economic realities faced by their constituents.
