Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke harshly against the “insane” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for trying to “attack his own state” with his policies, including his recent announcement on electric vehicle rebates.
Newsom announced Monday that the state of California would provide rebates for residents who purchased electric vehicles in the event that President-elect Donald Trump eliminates federal tax credits on EVs, claiming the state would be “doubling down” on green energy efforts. However, McCarthy contended that Newsom’s full statement would not give credit to Tesla, which he called “the one automaker that actually makes it in California.”
“This just shows that Gavin Newsom is not a serious governor,” McCarthy said on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom. “He’s insane of what he wants to attack his own state, that’s why our population is declining. We’re going to lose more congressional seats, that’s why we watched this state fall apart.”
McCarthy added that “the pendulum is turning” against Newsom because of how his policies “hurt the workers of California.” He also argued the governor does not have “a future” once he finishes his term in 2026, as Newsom is term-limited.
Newsom’s exclusion of Tesla from California’s EV incentives also drew pushback from Tesla owner Elon Musk, who also deemed the move “insane” in a statement on X. Earlier this year, Musk moved the headquarters of SpaceX and X out of California in response to a state law banning schools from notifying parents if their child starts identifying as a different gender, with Musk calling this “the final straw” with laws attacking “both families and companies.”
Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California!
This is insane. https://t.co/EhVeG2TYqT
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2024
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With California’s gubernatorial election coming up in 2026, speculation has started over who could succeed Newsom as governor, as Newsom cannot seek reelection due to term limits. On Monday, Fox News contributor Caitlyn Jenner hinted at a possible run as a Republican candidate, writing “MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN” on X, a play on Trump’s famous “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.
On the Democratic side, Vice President Kamala Harris and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) are considered possible candidates, though Jenner suggested Harris would not stand a chance in the gubernatorial race.