Could , or should, California split in two, or more, states?

CA has talked about this for years. Two states, and even three states I’ve heard at times. I think it’s a good idea for some reasons, and bad for others. I tend to lean towards not doing it, because I guess the complication of the change sounds overwhelming to me. Maybe it wouldn’t be that difficult though. We could solve some of the problem regarding how it affects us nationally by getting rid of the electoral college for voting in a president.

@JLeslie It would change the electoral college from 155? to a smaller number.

I don’t know about that. The number should stay the same, but the entire CA vote wouldn’t necessarily go to one candidate anymore. North CA could go to one candidate, and South CA to the other Candidate.

They can’t. The US constitution prohibits it without the consent of all the other states. And that won’t happen.

There is no good place to draw the line,anyway. What you make the most sense is east/west, not north/south/

@elbanditoroso Are you sure? I thought it just needs the US Congress to approve it by a majority. That is, first the state votes on it, then congress approves it if it passed at the state level.

The northern tier of counties (north of Napa Valley, north of Sacramento and Tahoe) have wanted to form a separate State of Jefferson for a long time. And last year, there was a ballot proposition being circulated that would have been to break California up into 6 states.

Part of our concern is not that we want to break up but that our current representation in Congress gives us only two Senators; while North and South Dakota have a total of four.

But we in California feel it is our decision, not the decision of people east of the Mississippi.

I would be more supportive of California leaving the Union. And all the red states would be happy with that too!

Article 4 Section 3 Phrase 1

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.[3]

@elbanditoroso Thanks for the info.

Yes, absolutely.

The new southern state to be called Vanity (no explanation required).
The northern folks would now live in Lancaster (‘Praise Points’ for anyone who knows why).

The state border would run horizontally through Modesto, for two reasons:

- It is centrally located.
– My last employer had a maintenance man named Modesto, and I liked him (which is valid enough for me, if it’s valid enough for the fine citizens of Modesto….who would, by the way, enjoy dual state citizenship…)

It’s a good idea but will never happen. California politics are completely controlled by LA and San Francisco. They will never let their political influence be diminished. Northern California and the Central Valley would love to have someone representing them. Alas, it won’t happen. The water rights alone would be impossible to sort out.

Quick, note, although it doesn’t really change the discussion: We’ve got 55 electoral votes, not 155 ;)

I believe we are also something like the 8th largest economy in the world. California’s awesome.

Personally, I don’t want to split the state. Wouldn’t it mean things like dividing our UC and CSU systems?

I also don’t like ideas of secession. Partly, because I don’t think simply disagreeing with other states on issues is enough of a reason to leave—we’d all be separate countries if that were the case, wouldn’t we? There’s got to be a sense of “for better or worse,” a sense that if we disagree we’ll discuss and debate and find compromise. Parly, becaues the most CalExit movement of the last election was led by figures with odd links to Russia… And partly, because I have a suspicion (though I’ve never bothered to research the matter) that if it were to happen, it’d be even more of a nightmare than the whole “Brexit” debacle.

No, but I am more and more leaning to a Calexit. The states are clearly not united.

“United”.....??

I’m sorry, I thought we were the Untied States of America….

Not yet.

…..tick…..tick…..tick…..tick…..

Jefferson State has had signs here for years.

California will split into at least two states eventually and who doesn’t want a waterfront.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1mlCPMYtPk

This plan obviously tries to separate the liberal megacenters from the conservative outlands.
That is not the plan for Jefferson State. We want more state money and attention for road conditions, dams, etc. Under the proposed split, we would still be overlooked by the South.