It's hard to find a better promoter of "Calexit" than Donald Trump. "Calexit" is the Californian Brexit, the idea that the Golden State would fare better as an independent state. It's not exactly a new concept: The project emerged in 2007 and thrived during the first term [2017-2021] of the real estate and casino mogul. Since his return to power, Calexit supporters claim that the pro-independence movement is gaining ground.
At the end of January, the secessionists received the green light from the State of California to launch a petition for a popular referendum. The consultation would take place in 2028. Voters would be asked to decide if California should "leave the United States and become a free and independent country." An ambitious question, considering the fact that the Constitution automatically dismisses the possibility of leaving the Union. The only tangible change in the event of a "yes" victory would be the creation of an investigative commission to assess the viability of an independent California.
The petition must gather at least 546,651 signatures by July 22. The movement's founder, Marcus Ruiz Evans, a town planner and former talk-show host on a conservative radio station, remains hopeful of achieving this. Californians voted over 61% against Trump in 2016 and 2020 and more than 58% in 2024. According to him, they are tired of living every four years "in fear of losing" what defines their lifestyle and which subjects them to the "hatred of Republicans."
Residents of the richest and most populous state in the country often feel underrepresented in federal bodies. Regarding Donald Trump, they feel targeted by an extraordinary spirit of vengeance. A "vendetta," according to Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff, that extends to attacking the initiatives of Nancy Pelosi, Trump's former opponent in Congress, who represents San Francisco. At the end of February, the president decided to cut funds from the Presidio Trust, the agency managing the park overlooked by the Golden Gate Bridge, a project Nancy Pelosi has been closely associated with.
You have 45.88% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.