California is back in the spotlight with a fresh secession proposal as Republican lawmakers seek to divide the Golden State into two separate states. The move comes in response to what GOP leaders call a Democratic “power grab” over congressional redistricting led by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Assemblymember James Gallagher, the Republican leader in the California State Assembly, announced on Tuesday that he will introduce Joint Resolution 23 at the State Capitol, backed by GOP colleagues.
Gallagher, representing East Nicolaus in Sutter County, said the proposal aims to counter efforts in Sacramento to redraw congressional maps in ways that he claims would silence rural voices.
“This is about stopping an attempt to rig the political system forever,” Gallagher said.
— James Gallagher (@J_GallagherAD3) August 27, 2025
— James Gallagher (@J_GallagherAD3) August 27, 2025
What the Plan Proposes
The resolution calls for splitting off 35 inland counties—mostly Republican strongholds—into a new state with a population of over 10 million people. This region would stretch from the northern border down to the U.S.-Mexico border, covering California’s vast rural and agricultural heartland.
Gallagher argues urban coastal centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco have long overshadowed these areas. “Rural California deserves a voice. This plan gives it that voice,” he added.
A Longshot Proposal with Political Roadblocks
Even if the resolution clears California’s Assembly and Senate—both dominated by Democrats—it would still require approval from the U.S. Congress, making the measure highly unlikely to succeed.
Efforts to split California aren’t new. According to the California State Library, more than 220 attempts have been made throughout history. The only successful state split in U.S. history occurred in 1863, when West Virginia seceded from Virginia during the Civil War.
