(Image source from: KUSI.com)

In November, Californians will have the opportunity to ballot on repealing the gas tax hike. The Gas Tax Repeal Initiatory required 643,948 projected valid petition signatures statewide, and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office said that target estimate was exceeded.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who along with state Democratic leaders pushed for the gas tax growth to fix California's roads and bridges, blasted the initiative to repeal it.

"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. Just say no," Brown said in a statement.

A crusade supported by national Republican leaders, including GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox, spent $1.7 million to put the Gas Tax Repeal Initiative on the ballot. Chairman of Reform California DeMaio, and a conservative talk show host on KOGO Radio spearheaded the endeavor in San Diego.

"We are thrilled by the successful qualification of the Gas Tax Repeal Initiative and this is a huge win for the tens of thousands dedicated and organized grassroots volunteers who helped collect signatures," DeMaio said.

State law requires the signatures of 8 percent of the number of electors who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial general election, for an initiative to make it to the ballot. Merely if the number of signatures is approximated using a sampling of the petitions, the law sets the minimum target 10 percent higher, and that was the target that was made today, Padilla's office said.

Polls show most California voters want to terminate the new tax that advocates say is meant to fix the state's roads and bridges.

By Sowmya Sangam