Why Are California Gas Prices Back Over $5 Again When Gas is Under $3 in Texas & Florida?
Here’s the Real Story.
If you’ve noticed gas creeping back over $5 a gallon, you’re not imagining it and it’s not just “seasonal.” This spike has been building for years, and now it’s hitting every family at the pump. The gap between what Californians pay and other states (48.7% higher) isn't accidental, it's policy driven.
Here’s what’s really going on:
California is losing major refinery capacity. A large refinery shut down last year and the only refinery left in California will be shutting down this April. When supply drops, prices rise. The market reacts long before the doors actually close.
Analysts warned this would happen. Studies projected that once these refineries go offline, gas could climb to $6, $7, even $8+ depending on how tight supply gets. We’re now watching the early stages of that squeeze.
State policies keep stacking costs on top. California adds more taxes, fees, and regulatory costs to fuel than any other state. Cap‑and‑Trade, LCFS rules, and refinery mandates all get baked into the price you pay.
Local oil production has collapsed. For decades, California has restricted drilling, shut down refineries, and reduced in‑state production. That means we rely more on imported fuel, and imported fuel is always more expensive and actually much worse for the environment.
Bottom line:
This isn’t a random price jump. It’s the predictable result of shrinking supply, rising regulatory costs, and long‑term policy decisions that have made California one of the most expensive states to live in.
And this is exactly why so many people say it’s time to break one‑party rule in Sacramento. These policies didn’t come out of nowhere, they came from the same political machine that’s been running this state for years.
2026 is our chance to change the way we vote and finally elect a common‑sense Republican governor who will put working families first again.
How high do gas prices have to go before people wake up?
Carol Pefley
Candidate for Ca State Assembly
