California Gas Prices Highest in Nation Ahead of Midterms
California gas prices remain the highest in the nation, and the war in Iran has given the state's Democrats a rare chance to turn the tables on the gas price issue, according to NPR. The report, by Guy Marzorati, aired on All Things Considered on October 21, 2026.
The conflict in Iran began on February 28, 2026, according to the California Energy Commission, which said gas prices around the world have risen sharply since then. NBC News reports that U.S. gas prices have risen by more than 40% since the United States and Israel launched the war in Iran.
The state's gas tax is $0.63 per gallon, the highest in the nation, according to KQED. The Energy Commission's price breakdown page puts the average California retail gasoline price at $5.46 per gallon in August 2026. The commission's frequently asked questions page, updated October 20, says California retail gasoline prices were in line with prior-year prices.
The commission reported in December 2024 that the annual average price of a gallon of gasoline in California that year was 20 cents lower than the year before and 70 cents lower than in 2022. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill X1-2, the state's gas price gouging and transparency law, in March 2023.
On the national stage, Reuters reported on October 20 that Iran is prolonging talks in a stalemate to influence the U.S. midterm elections, according to officials. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he expects oil prices to drop after the 2026 elections. Reuters reported that Trump has not offered a detailed plan to end the Iran war.
