Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has announced an abrupt shift by withdrawing support for an electric vehicle (EV) mandate, signaling a significant policy reversal with substantial implications.
At a Glance
- Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign no longer supports EV mandates.
- The Biden-Harris Administration announced EV mandates in March, aiming for half of all car sales to be electric by 2030.
- Larry Behrens and Daniel Turner of Power The Future criticized the policy reversal.
- A recent poll showed 59% of New Mexico residents opposed EV mandates.
Harris Campaign Withdraws Support for EV Mandate
The campaign led by Vice President Kamala Harris has decided to withdraw its support for an electric vehicle (EV) mandate. This action represents a significant change in policy direction, considering the Biden-Harris Administration’s earlier promotion of EV mandates. The sudden reversal could have substantial effects on the ongoing discourse surrounding environmental legislation and auto industry regulation.
Previously, Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations issued in March aimed for half of all new car sales to be electric by 2030. Harris’s campaign distancing herself from such mandates indicates a possible reevaluation of how best to achieve environmental objectives in the face of varied public opinion and feasibility concerns.
Criticism and Public Sentiment
Larry Behrens, Communications Director for Power The Future, criticized the abrupt policy change. He stated, “Governor Lujan Grisham is one of Kamala Harris’ biggest supporters in the state, so to see the Vice President quickly abandon her failed energy agenda must be shocking.”
Daniel Turner, Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future, also criticized Harris for her policy reversal, stating, “Combined with her fracking flip-flop, this is the second major reversal from Harris against the failed energy agenda she helped craft.”
Public sentiment also appears to be against such mandates. A poll by Power The Future indicated that 59% of New Mexico residents opposed the Governor’s EV mandates, and 72% of respondents believed the mandates would increase the cost of buying a car.
Policy Reversal and Future Implications
This recent policy shift represents Harris’s second major energy policy turnaround, following a previous stance change on fracking. These quick reversals raise questions about the coherence and consistency of the administration’s environmental strategy. Harris previously cosponsored legislation banning gas-powered cars by 2040, showing her firm stance on aggressive environmental reforms until now.
With Vice President Harris stepping back from mandates she previously supported, the American public may view this as a recognition of the practical and economic challenges associated with such ambitious targets. Whether this will effectively resonate with a broader audience remains to be determined as the campaign continues to unfold.
