San Jose, CA: At last night’s Gubernatorial Debate in Monterey, San Jose Mayor and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Mahan called on each of his fellow Democratic candidates to join him in supporting a temporary suspension of California’s highest in the nation gas taxes, which add nearly a dollar to the price of every gallon of fuel purchased in the state.
Mayor Mahan issued the following statement:
“Working families are struggling with skyrocketing costs. It’s past time for some relief. And Californians shouldn’t have to wait for the next election for our government to act. That’s why I believe we need to temporary suspend our state’s highest in the nation gas taxes, right now.
When a natural disaster hits California, we step up and help. A man-made disaster should be no different. Californians should not be forced to pay for a war in the middle east they didn’t start.
To every one of the candidates running for Governor who says they care about our state’s affordability crisis, this is a time for choosing. Working families are being forced to choose between paying rent, putting food on the table, or gas in the car for their morning commute. California’s elected leaders must choose to help.
I recognize that a temporary suspension of revenues we rely on to fix our roads carries a cost. But right now, the cost of doing nothing—for the millions of California families living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay for groceries, medicine, or the rent—is far greater. The most immediate and effective way we can make California more affordable right now, is by temporarily suspending our gas taxes.”
Related
- Feb 24, 2026 – Gonzalez Announces New Legislation to Suspend California’s Gas Tax
- Feb 21, 2026 – Valladares Reiterates Call for Emergency Legislative Session on California’s Rising Gas Prices
- Dec 5, 2024 – Asm Macedo Introduces Bill for Gas Tax Transparency
- Sept. 10, 2024 – Harder Introduces Bill to Suspend Federal Gas Tax
- Dec 7, 2022 – Assemblyman Fong Proposes to Temporarily Suspend the Gas Tax
