Californians Seek to Vote on Secession from the United States by 2028

Californians are now one step closer to potentially voting on a secession from the United States, with organizers recently granted the go-ahead to commence signature collection for an initiative aimed at this goal. Secretary of State Shirley Weber has set the threshold at 546,651 signatures from registered voters, representing 5 percent of the votes cast for the governorship in the November 2022 election, to ensure the proposal is placed on the ballot scheduled for November 2028. The deadline to submit these signatures to local election officials is July 22, 2025.

The primary advocate for this movement is Marcus Ruiz Evans, a resident of Fresno, who has long championed secession since 2012. He articulates that "Calexit" would empower Californians by giving control over their laws to the people of California rather than to unelected officials in Washington. Ruiz Evans emphasizes that this shift would end the financial drain on California taxpayers and allow the state to dictate its future independently.

Ruiz Evans has expressed significant political opposition to Donald Trump, highlighting a stark divergence from his former collaborator, who has since distanced himself from the secessionist efforts due to political differences. He recounted his experience of being questioned by the FBI about his previous associate while maintaining that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged connections linking his former partner to Russian operatives.

He crystallizes his position against Trump by reflecting on Trump's controversial statements regarding Mexicans and the hostility he believes is directed toward marginalized groups. Ruiz Evans affirms that his family's migration from Texas to California was driven by the need to escape the kinds of social injustices they faced, a memory that fuels his strong opposition to Trump's ideologies.

As the most populous and wealthiest state in the U.S., California holds significant importance, with its economy ranking fifth globally. Relations between Trump and California have been fractious, particularly as the president has suggested imposing conditions on federal assistance to the state amid ongoing climate-related disasters sparked by wildfires—a situation Trump himself has been criticized for exacerbating through his climate policies.

In light of Trump's election and the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 insurrection, Ruiz Evans asserts that there is considerable outrage among Californians, positioning himself to galvanize support for the secession initiative. He is determined to realize this goal by harnessing the anger and disappointment felt by many in the state towards Trump's leadership.