Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — California is once again stirring the national political landscape with renewed discussions of “Calexit,” a long-debated initiative to secede from the United States. If all goes according to plan, Californians could cast their votes on the matter as early as 2028.
California, the most populous and wealthiest state in the U.S., boasts the world’s fifth-largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund. It has been long that the states initiate Calexit movement, an initiative by Californians who want to separate from the US to become an independent and free country.
According to The Independent, Calexit recently gained momentum after Marcus Ruiz Evans, the leading figure behind the movement, secured official approval to begin collecting signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
Signature Collection
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced on Thursday (January 23) that Evans must gather voters to qualify for a statewide vote in November 2028. At least 546,651 signatures from registered voters which is equivalent to 5% of the turnout in the 2022 gubernatorial election, must be submitted to country officials by July 22, 2025, .
In a statement on the Calexit movement’s website, Evans emphasized that the initiative seeks to empower Californians to govern themselves without interference from the federal government.
“Calexit means that our laws are determined by the people of California and not unelected bureaucrats in Washington that we didn’t elect,” Evans states in the websites, as reported by The Independent.
“It means that we get a government that begins and ends at the borders of California. It means an end to the money siphoned from the pockets of California taxpayers. Most importantly, it means that for the first time in our lives we control our own destiny,” the statement added.
Longstanding Movement
Evans has been advocating for California’s independence since 2012. His early efforts included a collaboration with Louis Marinelli, a Trump supporter, but the two later parted ways over irreconcilable political differences.
Evans revealed that he was questioned by the FBI regarding Marinelli’s alleged ties to Russian funding. Marinelli reportedly received financial support from Aleksandr Ionov, who was later charged in 2023 for his connections to the Kremlin. Marinelli has denied knowing about Ionov’s Russian government links.
California’s Political Tensions
California state’s political friction with the federal government has intensified in recent years, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s administration often clashed with California on a variety of issues, including environmental policies. Following devastating wildfires, Trump proposed federal aid conditions that critics argued downplayed the role of climate change, a recurring point of contention with his administration.
Evans, who is of Mexican descent, voiced his frustration with Trump’s rhetoric and policies, particularly the former president’s remarks about Mexican immigrants. He also criticized Trump’s policies, which he viewed as harmful to women, LGBTQ communities, and other vulnerable groups.
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Evans believes the anger sparked by Trump’s presidency, particularly after the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, has galvanized Californians to consider independence more seriously. He remains optimistic that the “Calexit” movement can gain the traction needed to put California decision to secede into voters’ hands.
(Raidi/Agung)
