President Biden’s mandate to eliminate most sales of new gas-powered cars by the end of this decade is his latest climate change policy that puts vulnerable Democrats on edge.
Congressional Republicans will soon force Ms. Gluesenkamp Pérez and dozens of other Democrats in competitive reelection races to vote whether they back Mr. Biden’s newest green energy regulation. Centrist Democrats’ willingness to buck Mr. Biden’s green agenda was put on display this week when House Republicans voted on a series of energy-related bills. Ms. Gluesenkamp Pérez was among the more moderate Democrats who voted across the aisle.
Mr. Manchin is not seeking reelection, but his support will be pivotal to overturning Mr. Biden’s regulation. He helped write the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, which included up to $7,500 in tax credits for EV buyers. “My job is to make sure that whatever the auto industry is going to make, the cars they’re going to make, my job is to make sure they’re American whenever possible and union-made,” he said.