California threatens Calexit”: independence possible in 2028!

California threatens Calexit”: independence possible in 2028!

The political dispute between the Trump administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom is escalating as discussion of a possible “Calexit” gains momentum. In Los Angeles, numerous people demonstrated against President Donald Trump's controversial migration policy. These protests have prompted Trump to send soldiers to California, which Newsom criticizes as militarization of the streets and denounces the division in society. In an impassioned speech, Newsom declared that democracy and the rule of law were under attack.

The discussion about California's independence, often referred to as "Calexit," has gained momentum due to recent political developments. California has one of the largest economies in the world - the state's gross domestic product alone is $4.1 trillion. In comparison, California, as an independent state, would be the sixth largest economy in the world and larger than the G7 countries Great Britain, France, Italy and Canada, such as watson.ch emphasized.

The path to the independence vote

A vote on independence planned for 2028 has been opened for signature collection by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber. To get on the ballot, at least 546,651 signatures must be collected by July 22, 2025, representing five percent of the vote in the 2022 gubernatorial election. The initiator Marcus Ruiz Evans has already collected 210,000 signatures, reports oe24.at.

A poll shows that only 29 percent of Californians currently support secession, but support for the initiative is increasing - a 20 percent increase compared to last year. A commission could examine the feasibility of independence in 2027, while the adoption of the initiative could be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the US without having any immediate legal consequences.

Previous attempts and the current mood

The initiative is not the first attempt to separate California from the United States. Back in 2016, Evans tried a similar move, but without success. He is more optimistic about political developments and Trump's repeated candidacy. The pro-independence Yes California movement has already mobilized more than 8,000 volunteers and even opened a diplomatic mission in Moscow tagesspiegel.de.

Overall, the discussion about “Calexit” reflects increasing dissatisfaction among many Californians with the federal government. While the current focus is primarily on signature collection and the upcoming elections, it remains to be seen how the political landscape will develop in the run-up to the vote.