California's November midterm elections could determine the future of a proposed tax on vehicle mileage, according to State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio. DeMaio, a Republican, asserts that Democrats could leverage their two-thirds majority in the state Legislature to advance a statewide mileage-based tax, and that preventing them from retaining this supermajority in the 2026 election would effectively block the proposal.
Under the plan outlined by DeMaio, drivers could face a charge of six to nine cents per mile driven, in addition to existing fuel and vehicle taxes. This mileage would be tracked electronically or through annual inspections, with a bill issued based on total distance traveled. At the lower rate of six cents per mile, a driver covering 15,000 miles annually could incur an additional $900 per year, which DeMaio equates to adding approximately 87 cents per gallon to the gas tax.
DeMaio contends that the state's current high cost of living is exacerbated by such policies and argues that revenue generated from existing vehicle taxes has been diverted from road maintenance to other state priorities. He expressed concern that a per-mile charge could disproportionately impact working-class Californians who commute longer distances due to high housing costs.
Efforts to explore mileage-based tax alternatives have occurred in California previously. A pilot program for a mileage tax was included in a 2018 bill, and San Diego County considered a similar measure in 2021 before public opposition led to its abandonment. DeMaio's political organization, Reform California, has been actively recruiting and endorsing candidates for the state Assembly and Senate who pledge to oppose a mileage tax. The group is directing resources toward races it believes are critical to potentially breaking the Democratic legislative supermajority, asserting that the outcome of these elections will directly influence whether the mileage tax can be enacted.
DeMaio stated that Democrats are unlikely to put a mileage tax directly to a public vote due to anticipated voter rejection. Instead, he believes they could pass it through legislative action if they maintain the necessary supermajority. He urged voters to consider the mileage tax issue when casting ballots in the targeted state Assembly and Senate contests this November.