Ballot Fight Over Electric Car Tax Splits Newsom From Fellow Democrats

Proposition 30 is a "clean air initiative" that would tax the wealthiest Californians to pay for electric car rebates and charging stations. It has divided the Democratic Party and made odd political bedfellows of Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Chamber of Commerce and the conservative Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Lyft has contributed the most to the initiative, $25 million. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and other Bay Area heavyweights from the Democrat Party rallied in support of Prop. 30. They argued that passing the measure is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight air pollution.

Newsom's campaign ad is an attack on Prop. 30, which would fund electric car rebates and charging infrastructure. Critics say the measure was devised by transit and environmental justice groups. i.e. the Bay Area nonprofit think tank SPUR and Move LA from the Los Angeles area.

There's a rally for Prop. 30 in Oakland. It would provide government subsidies to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Lyft president John Zimmer pushed back on Newsom's assertion that the measure was "devised" by the company he co-founded. He said it's about the health of neighbors and communities. Last year California approved a mandate for ride-hailing companies: Ninety percent of their miles logged must be with electric cars by 2030.

Californians support Prop. 1 and Prop 27, too. PPIC poll also surveyed likely California voters about two other hot-button ballot measures. Prop 1 enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and Proposition 27 legalize online sports betting. The PP IC did not ask about Proposition 26, which would legalize roulette, games of dice and sports bets in tribal casinos. It is less important to voters than Prop 26.