Musk turns anti-Tesla Democrats off to EV policies: Consumer survey – Washington Examiner
A recent consumer survey from the Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report indicates that support for certain electric vehicle (EV) policies among Democrats has declined, especially due to Elon Musk’s controversial public persona. Historically, Democrats have favored policies that promote electric vehicles, but 56% of them now oppose the policy allowing carmakers to sell excess credits to others who fail to meet EV sales targets. This policy has been seen as instrumental in Tesla’s growth. Democratic pollster Evan Roth Smith points out that Musk’s actions have alienated pro-EV Democrats while failing to gain support among Republicans, leading to a decrease in overall backing for pro-EV initiatives. This decline is particularly notable as the Senate has recently voted to rescind California’s waiver allowing it to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Additionally, backlash against Musk has resulted in protests and a decline in Tesla sales, particularly evident in early 2025.
Musk turns anti-Tesla Democrats off to EV policies: Consumer survey
Electric vehicle policies have long been popular with Democrats, but a new consumer survey suggests one EV policy may be dropping in approval as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has drawn the ire of many Democrats.
A consumer survey from the Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report conducted nationally earlier this month shows that while Democrats support policies aimed at requiring more electric vehicles to be sold, they have turned against “allowing carmakers to sell their extra credits to other carmakers” which do not meet EV targets, per Politico. It showed 56% of Democrats oppose the credit selling policy, which some claim helped Tesla grow as an electric vehicle maker, while 20% said they support the policy.
Democratic pollster Evan Roth Smith told the Washington Examiner that Musk has alienated pro-EV Democrats during his time as the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, while failing to boost support for EV policies among Republicans.
“Elon Musk’s controversial stint in politics has scrambled support for pro-EV policies such as tax credits: Democratic voters are souring on any policy that could be seen to benefit Tesla and Musk, while climate-skeptical Republicans voters aren’t making up the lost ground despite Musk’s partisan appeal,” he said. “The result is a broad-based decline in support for pro-EV policies, ironically self-inflicted by Musk by alienating too many pro-EV Democrats while failing to create enough pro-EV Republicans.”
The consumer survey comes roughly a week after the Senate voted to cancel waivers granted to California by the Environmental Protection Agency to allow it to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The waiver had been granted by the Biden administration but has been revoked by the House and Senate and is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, via Congressional Review Act.
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It also comes as Musk leaves his special government role in the Trump administration after taking heat for months as the face of DOGE and its efforts to cut and reform the federal government.
Backlash from Democrats and aligned activists has led to protests and attacks at Tesla showrooms, and sales of the vehicles to drop in the beginning of 2025.
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