PTF Poll: Electric Vehicle Mandates Receive Bipartisan Opposition

September 26, 2023

Today we shared the results of our recent survey showing widespread opposition to electric vehicle mandates. The poll, conducted in New Jersey, found 58% of voters oppose EV mandates handed down by Governor Phil Murphy. The proposal, which requires all new car, SUV and light truck sales in the state to be zero emission by 2035, fails to win majority support even among Democrats (46%), young voters (46%) and Murphy’s own approvers (48%). While reasons for the opposition vary, nearly 7 out of 10 residents feel the mandates will cost them more money. The full results can be found here. 

“If the green agenda is this unpopular in deep blue New Jersey, imagine what it’s like in battleground states and districts across this country,” said Daniel Turner, Executive Director of Power The Future. “As militant environmental leftists like Phil Murphy and Gavin Newsom march their states toward a forced transition to all EVs, it’s clear these mandates are wildly out of step with middle-class Americans already buckling under the burden of Bidenomics. With numbers like these, it’s obvious why politicians must regulate their way to an all-EV future. Without the long arm of government forcing the way, this ill-advised technology wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Key takeaways:

• A majority (59%) call Governor Murphy’s EV mandate plan unrealistic and over half (55%) call it extreme.
• Fully 50% of New Jersey voters say they would be less likely to vote for a state legislator who voted to support these regulations.

Comments from voters about the electric vehicle mandate:

“It is unfair to create regulations that would create financial stress for thousands and thousands of people. People spend four hundred dollars on cars that barely work just to get their children to school. This would really impact thousands of people negatively.”

“Please don’t treat NJ residents as infants who can’t make their own good choices on their own. This proposal is wrong in so many ways.”

“Because 90 percent of the state can barely afford to pay to have a roof over their heads and food in their mouths. They will never be able to afford electric cars and charging stations at their homes.”

“I just feel it is a childish pipe dream and cannot be implemented in this state by that time. I feel it is atypical play at politics by Murphy to earn green points.”

“There is no thought to how the outdated electric infrastructure will support the significant increase in electricity usage.”