Newsom's office urges California drivers to skip Chevron this Memorial Day

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Thursday urged drivers to avoid Chevron gas stations over Memorial Day weekend, citing a state energy commission analysis showing the oil company charges 60 to 80 cents more per gallon than unbranded alternatives that meet the same quality standards.

The warning came as California pump prices averaged $6.14 per gallon — $1.58 above the national average — squeezed by the state's 70-cent gas tax, the highest in the nation, and a global crude crunch tied to the Iran War.

"Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean," Newsom's office posted Thursday on X, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. A second post from the office read: "Big Oil is already making billions off Trump's Iran War; don't let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name."

Chevron has run an awareness campaign at California gas stations for three years. Signs at those locations carry the message: "California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs." Chevron spokesman Ross Allen defended the campaign in an interview with ABC7 Los Angeles. "We've been very vocal about the importance of customer education in California so that our drivers and our consumers understand where their tax dollars are going," Allen said.

California levies the nation's steepest state gas tax at 70 cents per gallon. The average pump price of $6.14 per gallon already tops the national average by $1.58. Price pressure could deepen: two refineries representing about 18 percent of California's refining capacity have announced planned closures, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Global crude markets have tightened sharply since the Iran War effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf passage that normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply. California refiners, which rely heavily on imported crude, have faced rising feedstock costs as a result.

Orange County drivers pay the same statewide pump price on every fill-up. The American Automobile Association confirmed California gas prices remain among the nation's highest as the holiday weekend approaches.

Newsom signed a profit-penalty law in 2023 targeting oil companies that charge above an approved margin, but regulators have delayed full enforcement until 2030. A separate 2024 law requires refineries to hold fuel reserves designed to cushion sudden price spikes, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.