A movement to separate California from the United States is gaining traction, with its proponent, Marcus Evans, now authorized to gather signatures for a ballot initiative. The proposed question for the November 2028 ballot asks voters directly: "Should California exit the United States and become an independent nation?"
Hollywood sign in California. (Joshua Comins/Fox News)
Evans faces a deadline of July 22nd to collect the required signatures from at least 546,651 registered voters. If the measure passes, it wouldn't immediately lead to California's independence. Rather, it would express a lack of confidence in the U.S. government and signify Californians' desire for sovereignty. This declaration wouldn't alter the state's current government structure or its relationship with the U.S. A dedicated 20-member commission would then analyze the feasibility of California's self-governance and its potential as an independent nation.
An aerial view of the California State Capitol on February 01, 2023, in Sacramento, California. (Justin Sullivan/Justin Sullivan)
Seceding from the U.S. is a complex process requiring a constitutional amendment, needing approval from two-thirds of the states. This poses a significant challenge, especially considering the California constitution's assertion that the state is "inseparable" from the United States. Legal experts point out that the U.S. Constitution lacks provisions for a state's secession or for a state to exist as an autonomous nation within the U.S.
The Golden Gate Bridge is awash in warm light from the setting sun in San Francisco, California, February 13, 2015. (Photo by John Gress/Corbis via Getty Images)
