Kevin Kiley (politician)

Election offices in more than two dozen states, plus numerous members of Congress, have received suspicious letters containing a white powdery substance in the days before the midterms. Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Oregon officials reported intercepted or opened packages, some prompting evacuations and hazmat responses; preliminary tests have found no hazardous material. Affected lawmakers include Sens. Alex Padilla, Ted Cruz, Amy Klobuchar and Chris Murphy, and several California representatives. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating. Election official associations condemned the threats. Similar mailings targeted officials ahead of the 2024 election and in 2023, when some contained traces of fentanyl.

California Republicans, led by Rep. Kevin Kiley, are pushing back against a state regulation that restricts the sale of tires deemed inefficient by environmental standards, arguing the rule affects a large share of tires currently sold in the state and could compromise vehicle safety, including wet-road stopping distances. Critics say the measure, like other California environmental mandates, was implemented without a legislative vote.

Kiley points to his earlier success overturning California's rule phasing out gas-powered car sales as a template. That effort passed the U.S. House and Senate with bipartisan support and was signed into federal law, restoring consumer choice on vehicle purchases in the state. He says he intends to pursue a similar congressional resolution targeting the tire regulation.

The dispute reflects a broader pattern of friction between California's regulatory agenda and federal Republican lawmakers, who argue state officials have repeatedly bypassed voters and the legislature on policy matters ranging from crime enforcement funding to environmental rules.