California is one of the most oil and gas-rich places in the world. But the hostility of its state government is literally driving local producers to leave. Chevron is leaving the state where it was founded 145 years ago and moving to Texas. Phillips 66 is closing its oil refineries in the state later this year. Valero may follow suit.

The departures accelerated after Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively declared war on “Big Oil” when he established a new watchdog that has the power to penalize oil refiners that charge “too much” for gasoline. He promised to “hold Big Oil accountable for fleecing Californians at the pump…”

But voters may hold Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, and his fellow Democrats accountable if more of the state’s remaining eight refineries close. Nervous legislators are proposing the state take ownership of one or more refineries to avoid severe supply chain shortages.

This may be one of the dumbest ideas we’ve heard in a long time. Are government bureaucrats and regulators going to run the oil industry, an industry they hate?

California is going to run out of energy even though they have an abundance of it. Gavin Newsom for president, anyone?