These Californians Are Threatening to Secede After Trump’s Victory

Jamie Gregora / November 10, 2016

On Wednesday, #Calexit and #Califrexit began trending on Twitter. The hashtags have been used to discuss California’s potential secession from the United States following Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election.

The California-themed hashtags are a reference to Brexit, the British public’s recent decision to leave the European Union.  

Though Donald Trump was within half a percentage point of Hillary Clinton in the national popular vote, he was decidedly routed in California, winning just 33.3 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 61.5 percent.  

At least one pro-independence group, Yes California, has made the case that California would be better off as a stand-alone country. The group calls for a referendum on California independence, to be held in the spring of 2019.  

On its website, the group also says that “the United States of America represents so many things that conflict with Californian values” and that their movement is about “California taking its place in the world, standing as an equal among nations.”  

If the secessionists get their way, it would make Electoral College victories more challenging for Democratic presidential candidates in the future. California, which has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1992, has 55 electoral votes, more than any other state.

California sends two senators and 53 representatives to Congress, and is the most populous state in the union.

Here is a roundup of some of the #Calexit and #Califrexit tweets:

I am proud to be a Californian.
I am terrified to be an American. You've shown your true colors. #Clinton2016 #CalifrEXIT

— Elena Mirzaians (@el_mirz) November 9, 2016

California's economy alone is the 6th largest in the WORLD. We would succeed as an independent nation. Just throwing that out. #CalifrEXIT

— Miss Understøød? (@Dani1Time) November 9, 2016

I think it's time California secede from the US. This isn't my country anymore #secedefromunion #californian #CalifrEXIT #NotMyPresident

— *E* (@Tia_deet) November 9, 2016

If you don't want to live under trump come to California we have avocados and legalized weed #Calexit

— Aud One Out (@omg_audreyg) November 9, 2016

never seen protests this big at UCSD#electionday #hesnotmypresident #calexit pic.twitter.com/46Zzc5i7Kf

— Thomas Gui (@thee_gui) November 9, 2016

You can't say #calexit isn't a possibility Trump just became president. Hold your ignorant tongues. Anything is possible. #hesnotmypresident

— JORDAN-X (@Jordan_X) November 9, 2016

I can't believe I am saying this, but a Trump presidency leaves us no choice. The west coast is better off seceding. #Calexit

— Kevin Smith (@kasmith87) November 9, 2016

California needs to break from this country. #CALEXIT

— Fred Sablan (@Fredsablan) November 9, 2016

California should secede. We are the richest state in the U.S. Therefore it is strong enough to be its own country.#Calexit

— Valerie ? (@youremegabasic) November 9, 2016

Who else wants to start organizing California's secession from Trump-ruled USA? We're the world's 6th largest economy. Let's go! #Calexit

— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) November 9, 2016