Becerra Open to Taxing Californians by the Mile

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Xavier Becerra, the former California attorney general running for governor, says he would consider a mileage-based tax to pay for California's roads, the California Post reported on October 28, 2026.

Read the California Post report: https://nypost.com/2026/10/28/us-news/xavier-becerra-considers-added-mileage-tax-for-california-roads/

Asked by KCRA's Ashley Zavala whether he would support a mileage-based tax as governor, Becerra answered, “Everything should be on the table.”

He argued that roads are not maintained for free and have to be paid for somehow.

He also argued that drivers of electric vehicles, who do not buy gasoline, should help pay for the roads they use, just as gas drivers do through the gas tax.

The Study, the Pilot, and the Idea's History

Becerra's comments came as state officials wrap up a study on whether to replace the traditional gas tax with a fee based on vehicle miles traveled.

California has tested the concept before. A road charge pilot was included in SB 1, and San Diego County officials weighed a local version in 2021 before dropping it after public opposition.

No mileage tax exists in California today, and no rate has been set by the state.

The Pushback, the Claimed Cost, and the Long Commute Problem

Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio has been warning about a statewide mileage tax and argues Sacramento could push one through the Legislature without sending it to voters directly.

DeMaio claims a fee could run between 6 and 9 cents for every mile driven, on top of existing gas and vehicle taxes. At 6 cents a mile, a driver covering 15,000 miles a year would pay about $900 more a year, a figure he compares to an 87-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase.

Those numbers are DeMaio's claims, not a state proposal.

DeMaio also argues the state already collects gas and vehicle taxes for roads that remain in poor condition, and that the money has been diverted elsewhere. Critics of a mileage fee say it would land hardest on working-class drivers who live far from job centers because of housing costs and log long commutes.

The Race, the Election, and What Happens Next

Becerra, who also served as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, is running to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. He has also floated higher taxes on wealthy Californians and new fees on corporations that do not provide sufficient health benefits to full-time workers, according to the report.

The election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Any mileage-based fee would still need action by the Legislature, and the state's road charge study is expected to shape that debate.

Sources

California Post / New York Post, October 28, 2026: https://nypost.com/2026/10/28/us-news/xavier-becerra-considers-added-mileage-tax-for-california-roads/

KCRA interview with Xavier Becerra, reported by Ashley Zavala, October 2026