California voters will decide this November whether to get rid of higher gas taxes and vehicle registration fees approved last year.
Secretary of State Alex Padilla said Monday that initiative supporters collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The move was widely expected after organizers turned in far more signatures than required.
The gas tax initiative is a central part of the Republican strategy to hold onto contested legislative and congressional seats in the face of Democrats motivated by opposition to President Donald Trump.
The GOP hopes opposition to the gas tax will make inroads with moderate voters and encourage conservatives to cast a ballot.
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown and other supporters say the $5 billion a year in revenue is needed to maintain roads and bridges. The campaign in support, backed largely by construction unions and contractors, is emphasizing the benefits of rebuilding crumbling roads to relieve congestion and reduce car repair needs.
"This flawed and dangerous measure pushed by Trump's Washington allies jeopardizes the safety of millions of Californians by stopping local communities from fixing their crumbling roads and bridges," Brown wrote on Twitter. "Just say no."
Under legislation approved more than a year ago, taxes on gasoline rose by 12 cents per gallon and diesel fuel by 20 cents. Vehicle registration fees rose by $25 to $175 depending on the vehicle's value.
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The initiative would repeal all those tax hikes and require voter approval for any such increases in the future.
"This is a message to the millions of forgotten Californians ignored by the Sacramento political elite, help is on the way," John Cox, a Republican candidate for governor who helped lead the initiative drive, said in a statement.
