Republicans want to use gas stoves as an election issue. Here’s why

No one from the federal government is going to come into your home and take away your gas stove.

But Republicans and Democrats are making the fate of gas stoves the latest front in the raging political culture wars. It is a preview of the kind of rhetoric likely to persist throughout the 2023-24 campaign season..

Why gas stoves? Because they’re an appliance used every day in millions of kitchens. The GOP saw it’s opening in January, when Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. told Bloomberg News that a gas stove ban was “on the table.” Trumka explained that only new gas stoves would be banned. But the Washington firestorm was ignited.

So to Republicans, the threat of losing the appliances, however remote, shows that the Biden administration wants to control your kitchen. To Democrats, putting curbs on natural gas is crucial to their efforts to halt climate change and promote energy efficiency.

For two days this week in the House, and coming soon to the Senate, the war was on.

“Republicans stand with the American people, who overwhelmingly agree that banning gas stoves altogether is an egregious overreach and government-knows-best ideology at its worst,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

And, GOP leaders warned, a gas stove ban would be another example of an arrogant Democratic Party eager to deny people freedom of choice.

“This government control is out of control,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “It is about time we push back.”

This isn’t about control, countered Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Long Beach. Let the government find new ways to make energy more efficient, she said, adding “new efficiency standards for stoves are long overdue.”

Look at the bigger picture, Barragan urged. Democrats are “focused on the climate crisis. When household appliances use less energy, they will cause less pollution,” she said. “We will not be distracted.”

Congress takes action

The House passed two bills aimed at halting any federal government efforts to do away with gas stoves. All Republicans voting voted yes, and were joined on both bills by 29 Democrats, including Reps. Ami Bera, D-Sacramento, and Josh Harder, D-Tracy.

Bera explained that “While I support creating incentives and market forces moving consumers towards more environmentally-friendly appliances, Americans must know that the government is not out to take their stoves.”

Harder said he voted for the measures because, “I’m incredibly concerned about the high energy prices San Joaquin County families are facing and I’ll take any opportunity to reduce costs and make energy more affordable.”

Congress’ interest follows actions in California and New York aimed at quickening conversion away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.

Four years ago, Berkeley became the first city in the United States to ban natural gas in new homes and buildings. Earlier this year, a federal appeals court agreed with the California Restaurant Association, which challenged the measure, ruling that it was up to the federal government to set energy efficiency standards for appliances.

Dozens of other jurisdictions adopted similar restrictions, and last year the California Air Resources Board voted to end sales of new gas furnaces and water heaters effective in 2030.

Last month, New York became the first state to ban gas stoves in most new buildings starting in 2026.

CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric quickly made it clear after Trumka’s comments that the commission has no intention to ban gas stoves.

“Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, and the CPSC is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards,” he said. “ But to be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so.”

No one in the federal government has taken or plans to take any serious action to ban the use or sale of gas stoves.

“When I first heard of the Save Our Stoves Act, I thought it was a joke,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles. “We should be talking about the pressing issues of the day. China is not coming after us because of our stoves.”

Republican outrage

Republicans have seized on Trumka’s comment and won’t let go.

This week they pressed their views with some classic GOP arguments about big government, in one case featuring Palo Alto.

Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, described how “the progressive city of Palo Alto” banned natural gas in all new buildings and renovations, but exempted Chef Jose Andres’ facilities.”

Andres is opening a new restaurant, Zaytinya, in the city’s Stanford Shopping Center.

Natural gas is crucial because of “traditional cooking methods that require gas appliances to achieve its signature, complex flavors,” wrote Anna Shimko, an attorney for SPG Group, LLC, the mall’s operator, according to Palo Alto Online.

“Without a gas connection and appliances, Zaytinya would be forced to alter its signature five-star menu, which it is unwilling to do,” Shimko said.

Johnson was outraged.

“This celebrity chef and his wealthy, powerful national Democratic friends, who aren’t giving up their gas stoves, their fossil fuel fired stoves, are the same exact people lecturing my constituents about climate change,” Johnson said during the House debate.

That’s irrelevant, countered Rep. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey. “If a town in California or a state wants to prohibit it, they are still free to do so,” he said.

Republicans wouldn’t budge. This movement against natural gas is just another step in big government’s campaign to control everyone’s life, they said.

“Give it a couple months,” warned Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, “and they are going to be coming after everybody’s backyard grills.”