California Democrats lost their super majority in the legislature last night when freshman Democrat Josh Newman in Tuesady’s California primary over his vote for Governor Jerry Brown’s 12-cent-per-gallon gas tax hike.
He was replaced with Republican Ling Ling Chang. Newman was facing a recall over his vote to increase gas taxes by 12 cents a gallon in a rare taxpayer revolt. The movement has been able to get the measure on the November ballot so they can vote to repeal the tax.
Getting the gas tax repeal on the ballot has a second benefit for Republicans because it will get more of their voters to the polls and give them a better chance of holding on to all of their seats because the key for drmocrats taking control of the House depends heavily on California. Without California pick ups, their efforts would likely fail.
It could even bring out some moderate Democrats who were not going to vote over their disgust of the legislature’s overtaxing and over regulation.
Voters in California’s 29th State Senate district recalled freshman Democrat Josh Newman in Tuesady’s California primary over his vote for Governor Jerry Brown’s 12-cent-per-gallon gas tax hike, replacing him with Republican Ling Ling Chang and definitively denying Democrats a supermajority in the upper house.
Election results showed Newman being recalled by a margin of 59.5% to 40.5%, despite the fact that saving his seat was the top priority of California Democrats on Tuesday.
Newman was, of course, not the only state senator to vote for the gas tax hike. He was, however, the most vulnerable, and Republicans targeted him in an effort to undo the Democrats’ supermajority.
That supermajority no longer existed by the time of the recall election, thanks to several “#metoo” resignations of Democrats who had been accused of sexual harassment.
However, the recall effort pressed ahead, and is an early barometer of voter outrage at the gas tax, amidst higher prices at the pump.