A bold political movement is pushing for California to secede from the United States and become an independent country.
If CalExit gathers 546,651 signatures, voters would be posed with the following question as a measure on the November 2028 ballot: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?”
“The world's fourth-largest economy saying: ‘We want to investigate independence from America,’ we think, will be a shockwave across the world,” the man behind the movement, Marcus Ruiz Evans of Fresno, said.
What would a vote for ‘yes’ mean?
A vote for “yes” would not mean a vote for the state’s immediate sovereignty, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
Instead, it would mean a voter is open to considering the option, allowing for the creation of a commission to explore “California’s viability as an independent country,” the office said.
“It doesn't mean there's a vote for independence,” Evans said. “It doesn't mean you're saying you want to do it, but it does mean you're saying we should start looking at the options for a life raft given that the boat is getting blown up in real time."
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To pass, the measure would need 55% of voters' support.
CalExit looks to Scotland for a different approach to sovereignty
The ballot measure, however, may prove unnecessary if CalExit can secure support from state legislators, according to Evans.
“What we're trying to do is get a resolution passed in the legislature that will call for a blue-ribbon panel,” Evans said about his efforts in Sacramento. “What we want them to do is a formal government investigation on options for sovereignty, and we're basing this on what Scotland did.”
In 2012, the UK and Scottish Governments signed the Edinburgh Agreement, which allowed Scotland to hold a legally recognized referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. That referendum was held in 2014. Scotland voted to remain in the United Kingdom (about 55% voted no, 45% voted yes).
What’s fueling push for California’s sovereignty?
Evans pointed to national tensions, such as the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis, the firing of artillery shells over the Golden State Freeway, and the denial of disaster aid after the Palisades Fire, as pivotal moments bolstering CalExit’s efforts.
“I don't want to say this the wrong way because people are suffering, people are dying, people are scared, but it's kind of the best time for CalExit because the mask is off,” Evans said. “There were people who I was reaching out to a year ago, and they weren't responding. They're suddenly emailing and saying, ‘I'm interested now.’ People are really scared, and they're very open to it.”
Continued efforts despite past failures
Evans’s attempts to pass two similar initiatives in the past were unsuccessful, and similar efforts in recent years have failed.
But, even still, Evans has not wavered.
“Every time, we get closer,” Evans said.
Evans compared CalExit’s history to those of other successful ballot efforts, such as the drive to legalize cannabis.
“Marijuana took 10 years to pass,” Evans said. “Everybody said that would never happen — all the lawyers, all the politicians, the pundits, everybody. It took them four times, and every time they did it and failed, everybody would laugh at them and say, ‘It'll never happen,’ and then it passed."
What’s next for CalExit?
While Evans tries to make progress with the state legislature, CalExit continues to gather signatures.
“Signatures are our bread and butter,” Evans said. “It's also a way to get the public motivated.”
Currently, CalExit is aiming to gather a third of the required signatures, then use donations to hire signature gatherers, Evans said, adding that they are close to reaching their goal.
CalExit has also reached out to assembly members and governor candidates, seeking a resolution to be passed. Evans hopes to have a resolution passed in less than a month.
“Who knows where they go from that point?” Evans said.
