Infrastructure and Transportation

Gas tax and road funding

15 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: It affects what drivers pay at the pump or in vehicle fees, and whether there is enough money to keep roads and bridges in good repair.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

How to pay for federal highway and transit programs, including whether to change the federal gas tax that helps fund them, which has been 18.4 cents a gallon since 1993.1,2

  1. Raise the federal gas tax
  2. Add new fees, such as a yearly fee on electric vehicles or a charge for each mile driven
  3. Keep the gas tax as is and cover the gap with other federal money
  4. Cut or suspend the federal gas tax

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Cut or suspend the federal gas tax (12)

  • Josh Harder CA-9
    His campaign website says he is working to repeal the gas taxes in both Washington and Sacramento.3
  • Greg Steube FL-17
    His campaign website says he introduced a bill that would end the federal gas excise tax of 18.4 cents.4
  • Shawn Harris GA-14
    His campaign website says he would temporarily suspend the federal excise tax on fuel, which it says would cut gas prices by 18 cents a gallon and diesel by 24 cents.5
  • Brenton Awa HI-2
    His campaign website proposes passing tariff revenue back to consumers by reducing the federal gas tax, and giving incentives to states that lower their own fuel taxes.6
  • Jill N. Tokuda HI-2
    Her campaign website says she is fighting to suspend the federal gas tax.7
  • Ashley Hinson IA Senate
    Her campaign's affordability plan calls for temporarily suspending the federal gas tax, along with the state gas tax.8
  • Josh Turek IA Senate
    His campaign's fuel-price plan calls for temporarily suspending the federal gas tax, along with tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and pausing all diesel exports.9
  • Charles Booker KY Senate
    His campaign website says he would suspend the federal gas tax for a year.10
  • Chris Chaffee MD-5
    His campaign website says the federal and state governments should suspend the fuel tax for 30 days to help lower fuel prices.11
  • Michael Bouchard MI-10
    His campaign website says the state and federal gas tax should be temporarily suspended to lower prices at the pump.12
  • Chris Pappas NH Senate
    His campaign website says he is leading efforts with Senator Mark Kelly to suspend the federal gas tax.13
  • Annie Andrews SC Senate
    Her affordability plan calls for suspending the federal gas tax.14

Statements that don't match one option (3)

  • John "Drew" Williams KY-1
    His campaign website proposes tying the federal gas and diesel tax rate to an oil price benchmark, reducing or suspending it when oil prices rise and gradually increasing it when prices fall.15
  • Vivek Ramaswamy OH Governor
    His campaign website calls on the legislature to suspend Ohio's state motor fuel tax for 90 days, with about $750 million set aside to replace the lost road and bridge funding.16
  • Rebecca Bextel WY Governor
    Her campaign website says she would review Wyoming's fuel tax and propose a reduction while keeping essential roads and bridges maintained.17