Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday over high fuel prices, arguing that the state's climate rules are responsible for the wide gap between pump prices in California and much of the country.
Cruz Blames California Rules For Gas Prices
The Texas Republican entered the dispute after posting a photo on X showing he paid $3.99 per gallon at a Texas fuel station. Addressing Newsom directly, Cruz wrote, "Hey Gavin—the problem isn't Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX), it's California's stupid energy policies…."
The post was a counterpunch to Newsom, who spent the holiday weekend urging Californians to avoid Chevron stations. Newsom's office said "Big Oil" was gouging drivers and using global market disruptions to pad profits, as the governor pushed consumers toward unbranded gasoline.
Newsom's Office Fires Back At Cruz
Newsom's press office quickly fired back, saying Cruz's own receipt showed he had overpaid for branded fuel when cheaper options were nearby. "We're so owned that Ted Cruz spent an extra 35 cents per gallon at Chevron… when he could have gone to Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST) 2 blocks away (P.S. that's on top of the $1.35 more he's spending thanks to Trump's Iran War gas premium!)," the office wrote on X.
Fuel costs remain elevated nationwide. AAA listed the national average for regular gasoline at $4.491 per gallon as of May 26. Prices have eased slightly since a four-year Memorial Day holiday high, but supply constraints and global market pressure continue to weigh on drivers. California remained the nation's costliest market at $6.14 per gallon, followed by Washington at $5.78 and Hawaii at $5.64.
Oil Prices And Pipeline Fight Add Pressure
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil fell 2.20% to $91.82/barrel at press time, while Brent crude fell 1.72% to $97.85/barrel. The United States Oil Fund (NYSE:USO) ETF declined 2.78% to $137.00 at market close on Tuesday.
The exchange also revived Newsom's broader feud with oil producers. His office previously criticized the Trump administration's decision to reopen the Sable Offshore Corp (NYSE:SOC) pipeline, saying it threatened communities and California's $51 billion coastal economy. The pipeline would supply oil to Chevron and had been shut after a 2015 spill caused significant damage.
Photo Courtesy: Lev Radin on Shutterstock.com
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