TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey doesn’t want to be California of the East. The ridiculous notion came from Massachusetts native and current governor of the Garden State, Phil Murphy. Most New Jerseyans want New Jersey to be New Jersey. Nobody asked for a New Englander to come here and tell us we want to be something else.
That sentiment was echoed this week by a state lawmaker.
New Jersey State Senator Mike Testa (R) took to social media today to voice strong opposition to a potential electric vehicle (EV) mandate in the Garden State, warning that such a policy would transform New Jersey into the “California of the East Coast” and jeopardize the state’s trucking industry. In a post on X, Testa urged his colleagues in Trenton to reject progressive proposals and instead follow the example of the Trump administration by prioritizing consumer freedom.
“To my colleagues on the left in Trenton, I have news for you: New Jerseyans DO NOT want to be the, ‘California of the East Coast,’” Testa wrote. “We MUST follow in the footsteps of the Trump Administration and let people drive the car they want to CHOOSE. A full blown electrical vehicle mandate in New Jersey will destroy our states’ robust trucking industry.”
Testa’s comments come amid ongoing debates in New Jersey over environmental policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, including proposals to phase out gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric alternatives. Critics of EV mandates argue that such policies could impose significant costs on consumers and industries, particularly in a state like New Jersey, which relies heavily on trucking for logistics and commerce along the busy Northeast Corridor.
The senator’s reference to California alludes to that state’s aggressive push toward electrification, including a mandate to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Testa’s invocation of the Trump administration suggests a preference for deregulation and market-driven solutions, aligning with policies championed during Trump’s tenure that resisted federal overreach in automotive and energy sectors.
New Jersey’s trucking industry, a vital economic engine, employs thousands and supports the state’s role as a hub for shipping and distribution. Opponents of an EV mandate, like Testa, contend that the transition to electric trucks could strain infrastructure, increase costs due to limited battery range, and disrupt supply chains, especially given the current limitations of charging networks for heavy-duty vehicles.