RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Senate Democrats have again defeated Republican efforts to repeal an electric vehicle mandate that aims to reduce carbon pollution through the adoption of California’s stringent rules for vehicle emissions. A Senate committee on Tuesday voted down three GOP-sponsored bills that would have rolled back the so-called “clean cars” legislation first signed into law in 2021. The law will phase in a requirement that all new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs offered for sale be 100% zero-emission by 2035. Sales of new gas-powered cars will be banned, though drivers will be able to keep their existing gas-powered cars or buy used ones. The move was cheered by environmental groups.