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California Governor Advises Drivers to Avoid Chevron Stations
Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X urging Californians to skip Chevron stations over the holiday weekend. Chevron has posted signs at some stations attributing high prices to state policies.
May 22, 3:16 PM·1m read1 source
Los Angeles TimesAudio version
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X on May 22, 2026, telling drivers to avoid Chevron stations during the Memorial Day weekend. The post included screenshots showing Chevron prices higher than those at nearby unbranded stations and stated that unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines.
Chevron has placed signs at some California stations stating that state politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs. The signs include a QR code linking to a company webpage that asks visitors to speak up for affordable, reliable energy.
A Chevron spokesperson told the Associated Press the signs are part of a campaign started three years ago to explain how state policies affect gasoline prices. The company has said higher taxes, fees, environmental standards, and refining restrictions have contributed to elevated pump prices.
California's average gasoline price reached $6.13 per gallon as of May 22, 2026, nearly $1.60 above the national average. The price increase followed U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran in late February that disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
State officials cite several factors behind California's higher costs, including a low-emission fuel blend, environmental program fees, the state's isolated fuel market, and the highest state gasoline tax in the country at 70 cents per gallon. Chevron controls 19 percent of California's retail gasoline market with more than 1,600 stations.
A state energy commission analysis of 2024 prices found the company's retail margin averaged 84 cents per gallon, 48 cents higher than unbranded stations.
Newsom has opposed major oil companies and signed a 2023 law allowing penalties for excess profits. Regulators later delayed enforcement of that law until 2030 after two refineries threatened to close. Chevron moved its headquarters to Texas in 2024, ending a 145-year presence in California. The company cited state energy and climate policies as a factor in the relocation.
