On Thursday, Republican senators in the Senate cast a 51-44 vote against California’s plan to prohibit the sale of gasoline-driven vehicles by 2035, which is central to the state’s initiative aimed at decreasing pollution levels. Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, where the US automotive sector resides, stood as the only Democrat aligning herself with the Republicans on this issue. Additionally, three GOP members and two Democratic representatives were absent during the voting process.

The restricted policy was part of California’s larger initiative to reduce air pollution.

the lowest ranked in the country

— by requiring a shift to electric vehicles and imposing tougher regulations on diesel trucks. Historically, the state has depended on a Clean Air Act waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement more rigorous emissions standards than those set at the federal level.

Ten additional states, together with Washington, D.C., also have

adopted

California’s existing vehicle standards. This is the first time such a waiver-based rule has been overturned by Congress.

Supporters of the resolution, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), criticized the mandates as costly and overreaching. “Consumers should be able to purchase the vehicle of their choice,” Capito said. “I have a big problem with electric vehicle mandates that replace the will of the consumer and the will of the government.”

Critics of the measure, such as California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, denounced the vote as an unlawful attempt at consolidating power. Padilla, raised in the polluted San Fernando Valley,

warned

against reversing decades of environmental progress. “With these votes, Senate Republicans are bending the knee to President Trump once again,” he said.

Governor Gavin Newsom labeled the vote “unconstitutional,” alleging that Republicans were circumventing Senate regulations and eroding state power. He stated, “We will not allow Trump-backed Republicans to roll back our environmental progress and pollute America once more.” “We intend to challenge this unlawful assault on California’s rights in court,” he added.