‘Calexit’: the end of the United States
The initiative has been officially registered and is now in the signature-gathering phase, aiming to secure support from voters.
After years of political and social conflicts in its quest for independence, Britain broke ties with the European Union in 2020 through Brexit. The move, however, brought significant economic and trade disadvantages. Problems though that don’t seem to worry some Californians.
California dreaming... of being free
Under the name Calexit, a group of Californians has launched a movement to achieve the state’s secession from the United States, arguing that California is being harmed culturally and financially and should pursue full independence.
The initiative has been officially registered and is now in the process of gathering signatures, with the goal of securing support from over 50% of the state’s voters to bring the measure to the ballot in the 2028 elections.
Could Calexit happen?
However, the likelihood of California achieving independence from the United States appears slim. Even with the approval of more than half of the voters, the measure would need to be debated by an official committee organized by the authorities—an unlikely scenario due to one major obstacle: regional laws.
According to California law, the state is an “organic part” of the United States, meaning it cannot legally become an autonomous country. Furthermore, the state is primarily governed by federal laws, which do not allow any U.S. state or locality to secede from the nation.
Adding to this challenge is California’s vital role within the United States. It is the country’s most populous state, home to nearly 40 million people, and the third-largest by area, behind only Texas and Alaska. More importantly, California has the highest GDP of any U.S. state, thanks in large part to its economic powerhouses—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara.
Yes California
Surprisingly, this is not the first time Californians have attempted a civil campaign for independence. In November 2016, a significant group of citizens launched a movement to separate from the country, driven largely by the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump.
Known as the Yes California movement, the secessionists submitted a referendum proposal to the state attorney general’s office, titled “Calexit: 2019 Referendum on the Independence of California.”
While its supporters hoped to hold a vote by March 13, 2019, the petition failed to secure the required 50% of voter support and was quickly dismissed and forgotten.
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