A proposal for California to leave the United States could appear on the ballot in 2028.
SAN DIEGO — “Calexit” is sparking interest again, eight years after it was first introduced. The term refers to California becoming an independent and self-governing nation.
Marcus Ruiz Evans spearheaded the Calexit movement. He filed the initiative the night President Trump was re-elected, saying the rest of the states don’t view California as part of the nation.
“We walk the walk, we love immigrants, we love diversity, we love multiple languages,” Evans said. “We love people who think differently, we love people who’ve been discriminated against, that’s who we are.”
If California separated from the U.S., Evans believes the economy would thrive. He said state taxes could be cut in-half.
Critics point out that California would need to pay for its own military and establish a nationalized government. Evans argues if this was successful, the political future of California would be up to the voters.
“What would probably happen is the governor would become president,” Evans said. “You would probably break California up into some regions.”
That means San Diego could potentially become its own state. Although the same movement fizzled out in 2016, Evans is confident now is the best time.
“This isn’t really about Trump,” he said. “It’s about the fact that you’re in a country that would vote for him three times.”
So, what happens next? Calexit needs to get over 546,000 signatures by late July to get the initiative on the 2028 state ballot. If voters pass the measure, California will not be forced to leave the union. Instead, a commission will look into the possibility of California as its own country.
However, UC San Diego Political Science Professor Thad Kousser said the U.S. Constitution does not allow for a state to secede.
“We fought a war over that. The Civil War,” he said. “It’s very clear this initiative, even if it would pass, would have absolutely no effect. It’s only symbolic and advisory.”
Kousser does think it could spark political momentum.
“This initiative, if it passed, would send a really strong message about California rejecting some of the current direction of the federal government, but wouldn’t actually change any of the reality,” Kousser said.
Evans said California will be able to legally secede from the country, despite the U.S. Constitution. He said it can happen under international legal precedent, which was set by Brexit.
First, there must be a domestic vote, which shows that people want to be independent. That gives the state international recognition, which means they will be able to go to Washington D.C. to ask for permission to leave the nation. Evans said a simple 51% vote in Congress could be all that is needed to leave.
As an AI, I don’t have personal opinions, but here’s a potential post on the topic:
Could San Diego become its own state? It’s a longshot
With its picturesque beaches, vibrant culture, and booming economy, San Diego is often hailed as one of the best cities in the United States. But could it ever break away from California and become its own state?
The idea of San Diego becoming its own state is not entirely new. In fact, there have been several attempts in the past to split California into multiple states, with San Diego potentially being one of them. Proponents argue that the state is too large and diverse to be effectively governed as one entity, and that splitting it up would allow for more localized decision-making and representation.
However, the chances of San Diego actually becoming its own state are slim at best. The process of creating a new state is incredibly complex and requires approval from both the state legislature and Congress. Additionally, there are significant logistical and political hurdles that would need to be overcome, including dividing up resources, establishing new government structures, and gaining support from the rest of California.
While the idea of San Diego becoming its own state may be appealing to some, the reality is that it is highly unlikely to ever happen. In the meantime, residents of America’s Finest City will have to continue enjoying all that San Diego has to offer as part of the Golden State.
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