The announcement by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has stirred a considerable amount of interest and debate. On Thursday, she gave the green light to a secessionist movement, allowing its leader, Marcus Ruiz Evans, and his CALEXIT team to start gathering petition signatures.
Their ambitious goal is to collect 546,651 signatures by July 22. If they achieve this, the proposal will be placed on the 2028 election ballot in California.
The proposition is straightforward yet profound: Should California become a free and independent country? For this initiative to pass, at least half of registered voters must participate in the election, and 55% must vote in favor.
Such a result would serve as a significant statement of no confidence in the U.S. from the people of California. However, it is crucial to note that the California secretary of state has clarified that this vote would not immediately alter the state’s relationship with the United States.
Instead, a successful vote would lead to the creation of a commission tasked with evaluating California’s potential as an independent nation. This commission would face numerous challenges, including the potential loss of free trade with other states, the disappearance of over 762,000 jobs tied to U.S. national security, and the end of federal funding that covers half of California’s medical expenses.
The CALEXIT movement argues that California, despite receiving over $143 billion annually in federal aid, is burdened with numerous challenges. These include a significant homeless population, high crime rates, resource shortages due to illegal immigration, droughts, wildfires, and a housing crisis.
The campaign suggests that independence would allow California to pursue its progressive values without the constraints of differing ideologies from other states.
Advocates for CALEXIT believe that independence would enable California to implement strict gun control laws and adopt aggressive climate policies. They see an opportunity to shape the state as a bastion of leftist ideals, free from the constraints of the U.S. Constitution, which does not provide a mechanism for a state to secede.
Polling data has provided some encouragement to the campaigners. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from 2017, at the start of President Donald Trump’s term, indicated that 32% of respondents supported California’s secession. A separate poll by the University of California Berkeley found similar results, with 32% in favor and 68% opposed.
Despite this support, a YouGov poll commissioned by the Independent California Institute revealed a contradiction. While 61% of respondents believed that secession would improve life in California, 62% acknowledged the practical impossibility of such an outcome. This aligns with the state’s constitution, which declares California an inseparable part of the United States, and the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law.
The secessionist dream is fraught with legal and logistical challenges. The U.S. Constitution does not offer a path for a state to secede or become autonomous. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office emphasized this point in 2017, underscoring the lack of legal precedent or mechanism for such a drastic move.
Even though the prospect of secession might seem unrealistic, the exercise is not without cost. The secretary of state’s office estimates that organizing a vote on this matter would cost taxpayers approximately $10 million in one-time expenses. Additionally, the commission to evaluate California’s viability as a nation would require $2 million annually.
Marcus Ruiz Evans, the driving force behind CALEXIT, was previously involved with the Yes California campaign, which shared similar secessionist goals. His former partner in that effort, Louis Marinelli, had connections to Russia and expressed a desire to reside there permanently due to disillusionment with the United States.
Evans later reflected on his involvement with Marinelli, admitting in a 2019 blog post that he had been a “useful idiot” for Russian interests. Despite the setbacks and complexities, the idea of an independent California continues to captivate a portion of the state’s population.
As California navigates this intriguing chapter, the broader implications on national unity and state identity remain to be seen. The conversation around secession highlights the diverse political landscape and the ongoing dialogue about states’ rights and federal authority. Whether CALEXIT will succeed or falter, it undeniably reflects a segment of California’s desire for change.
Good.!
America can finally get rid of a shithole State and the Anti-American Communist Democrats can feel free to completely destroy it.!
And America should not bailout the bastards from anything they ruin.
Now we can build a fence around that POS State just like the movie Escape from LA..
No more funds for Roads and
Bridges saving American taxpayers more money.
They’ll have to create their own currency and Electricity and drive their pitiful EV’S and abiding by Communist rules.!!
It’ll be a great day If and only IF that happens.!!!
Let the go! PLEASE.
California is officially a Communist State ruled by the most brain dead vile Morons on the face of the earth. I suppose they will want Gelhead Grewsom Newsom to be President. Pathetic bunch of cockroaches. We left that shit hole over 30 years ago just for that reason. Let them secede when the BIG ONE hits it will be a floating island of crap if anyone survives. LOL what a bunch of clowns.
Oh yea, something BIG is going to hit there!
Great idea, but why can’t they call a special election instead of waiting until 2028? If they are that serious, then get a ballot before the voters before the end of 2025, and if they pass the proposal, they can get started by 2026. Give a year to organize, then by 2027 secede before the 2028 US elections. That will give the US time to start building a wall along the California border as what goes on there should stay there.
Let them go! I wonder just how long they can continue without all of the US tax money they currently receive? This would be a win/win for most American taxpayers.
Absolutely Kathie, this is what they wanted over the years; so by all means let’s make sure they get just what they bargained for, the whole enchilada!
I say let em at it. California is a burr under the saddle of common sense. While we are at it, how about a wall?
Don; I say let’s all “go for it!” That was always a favorite Cali Lingo Term so “let’s do it!” “Make it happen!”
SPECIAL NOTE: Cannot think of a better action to help clean up America. Maybe the politicians in California will let us bring them 1000’s of illegal aliens to help clean up the fire damage and pick what little crops they have left to pick.
Note: Politicians, bureaucrats, academicians, and most media folks, suggest most of you best do your research and educate yourselves on the details of envelopment operations for that is what Donald is bringing to American government at every level (see message below). At least dig your foxholes deeper and add overhead cover. Have a nice day. Soldier/Cop, Retired
OUR LAST HOPE, A TRUE BATTLE CAPTAIN!
America, we are once again on the path to make America great again. Why? Because over 75 million of us have re-elected the very first true ‘Battle Captain’ to ever serve as our President and Commander-in-Chief. Why do I say Donald Trump is our first true Battle Captain? Because, Donald Trump is the first president to regularly demonstrate that the ‘Seven C’s of Leadership’ are a part of his character. The ‘Seven C’s of Leadership’ listed in the order of their importance as determined in a 1980 survey of 1645 ground combat veterans are: CANDOR, COMPETENCE, COMMITMENT, CONSISTENCY, COURAGE, COMPASSION, and COURTESY.
As one of the army officers charged with finding a true Battle Captain among all those army officers serving this nation from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam Conflict, I can testify that we only found one officer who made the grade of ‘Battle Captain’. And, he like Donald Trump was not a professional soldier. A year before the Battle of Gettysburg he was a college professor, yet most historians credit him for saving the Union Forces left flank and forcing General Lee to commit his forces to a frontal attack which failed. The Battle of Gettysburg is generally credited as the turning point of the Civil War and lead to the surrender of the Confederate Forces two years later.
Donald Trump has proven that he is indeed a Battle Captain. He has turned the attacks on our flanks and now I am confident he will succeed in an overwhelming envelopment of all the forces trying to destroy America. God bless and protect Donald Trump, and God Bless and protect America as we help Donald Trump make America great again. I leave you with one question. Are you willing to fight for America, your family, and/or yourself?
Soldier/Cop, Retired
C.W. LAUDERDALE; thank you for this timely and historical perspective, and as my father always told me as I learned over time how right he was, “to always put things into their proper perspective;” that speaking of which you have surely done here!
America is at war once again internally, and I have felt for a little while now, that it was becoming “do or die time for our Constitutional Republic” which has been fighting on “multiple battle fronts simultaneously” for quite a while now!
And how President Trump could possibly be the last President of these “United States of America” or by the grace of God Almighty, perhaps he is that “True Battle Captain” you speak of that will usher in a “Great New Beginning” for this formerly “One Nation under God!”
For this I pray!
Amen.
GREAT, then we have another place to send all the illegal immigrants !
Heck, yeah, let ’em go. They’ll get no more federal freebies, no medicare/medicaid funding, no school funding, no disaster relief, no military support. They can set up their own postal services and their own military. They’ll have to buy all the US federal buildings and properties, too, including the military bases and all the equipment. Any time they want to leave the state, they’ll have to get a passport and/or a visa to come into this country. If they have people who work outside of CA, they’ll get to pay US Income tax on the money they earn from the US, on top of what CA will have to charge for taxes to build and support their own country. More of the illegals will flock to their little sanctuary and stay out of our country. Send Washington and Oregon with them. It will save the US taxpayers a ton of money.
I just read through the 13 comments before mine and didn’t find even one that opposed California’s succession. I am for it for the same reasons as everyone else here — but I do have one concern that ought to be addressed: The commie state of California might quickly align with the Chinese commies and even invite them over for more than just a friendly social over tea. You know the Chinese would love to set up a military base in North America and the leftist scoundrels running California would be just treacherous enough to let them do it.
Interesting thought that has not been expressed. Fully believe if California suceeded they would do what said
chazd, more than likely its a given as they’re are mostly Marxist’s already or such heathens they would grab whatever that evil SOB Newsom would lay out as the way to go! Look what he has already people like Bass!