Following the approval of Proposition 50, which could allow Democrats to gain five more congressional seats in the upcoming midterms, Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-East Nicolaus) is advocating for a plan to divide California into two states. Assembly Joint Resolution 23, introduced in August, suggests forming a new state from 35 inland counties, including most of Northern California, the Sierra Nevada, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire. Gallagher presented his proposal to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on November 6.
During the meeting, Gallagher described Prop. 50 as “a major catalyst” for his proposal and expressed concerns that issues like rising utility bills, crime, homelessness, and wildfire migration are being neglected. He argued that the coastal regions dominate California’s political landscape, often overlooking the needs of inland communities. “They don’t really care about us because they don’t have to,” Gallagher stated.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors, with a conservative majority, voted three to two in favor of supporting the proposal. However, Gallagher acknowledged the challenges ahead, emphasizing the need for grassroots support from local communities to push the initiative forward. According to KRCRTV, “If I went into committee tomorrow to present that bill, it probably wouldn’t get through,” Gallagher admitted.
While the idea of splitting California isn’t new, it remains controversial. Similar proposals have been considered by other counties, including Siskiyou, Modoc, Tehama, Lassen, and San Bernardino. Should Gallagher’s proposal succeed, it would mark the first state split since West Virginia’s formation during the Civil War.
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