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4mo ago

California Secession Ballot Initiative Approved for Signature Collection

The proposal to explore California's independence requires over 546,000 signatures by July 22 to appear on the 2028 ballot.

Photos of Marcus Ruiz Evans of The Yes California Independence Campaign talking to Washington Post reporter. Evans has been fighting for secession for years, and finally feels validated by the anti-Trump movement that has reignited the move to secede.
The California State flag and the U.S. flag fly in Los Angeles, California on January 27, 2017. A campaign by Californians to secede from the rest of the country has been revived. 
California flag and American flag

Overview

  • The initiative would ask voters in 2028 if California should leave the United States to become an independent country, though the vote would be legally nonbinding.
  • To qualify for the ballot, supporters must collect 546,651 valid signatures by July 22, 2025, representing 5% of votes cast in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
  • If passed, the measure would establish a commission to evaluate the feasibility of California's independence and produce a report on the state's ability to govern itself.
  • Secession would require a constitutional amendment, needing approval from Congress and 38 states, a process constitutional experts deem highly unlikely.
  • The campaign, led by Marcus Ruiz Evans, cites frustration with federal policies and President Trump's administration as motivating factors for renewed efforts.