CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA REDUX
San Bernardino Votes to Secede from California, Form 'Empire' State
Giulia Carbonaro
Newsweek
Anarrow majority of voters in San Bernardino, California, has voted in favor of a measure allowing county officials to initiate the process of seceding from the state of California.
People line up to vote at Plummer Park on November 8, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.
Newsweek
Anarrow majority of voters in San Bernardino, California, has voted in favor of a measure allowing county officials to initiate the process of seceding from the state of California.
People line up to vote at Plummer Park on November 8, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.
© David McNew/Getty Images
Measure EE asked the electorate whether San Bernardino County elected representatives should "study and advocate for all options to obtain the county's fair share of state funding, including secession from the State of California," according to the Voter Information Guide for San Bernardino County.
The possibility of seceding from California was added to the proposition by Jeff Burum, a real estate mogul, who said the state wasn't doing enough to help the county with its increased population.
At the moment, San Bernardino County counts some 2.18 million residents, the fifth-highest population in the entire state.
"I would never willfully want to leave this state," Burum told The San Bernardino Sun. "But I can tell you this, if you're just going to continue to abuse me and abuse us, sometimes you don't have a choice but to stand up for yourself."
He also suggested that the county be turned into a new state with the name of "Empire."
The measure, put to San Bernardino's voters on November 8, was passed 51.3 percent to 48.7.
Newsweek has contacted Burum and San Bernardino County for comment.
Will San Bernardino Actually Secede From California?
It's unlikely that San Bernardino will secede from California, even though the passing of this measure technically allows elected officials to initiate the project.
The measure is mostly symbolic, showing that the county is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it gets its "fair share" of state funding, including secession. But it's unclear whether a secession from the state would even be legally or constitutionally possible.
According to the Constitution, any secession must be approved by the State legislature and Congress.
Though there are cases in which previous secession attempts have worked out—Maine seceding from Massachusetts in 1820 and West Virginia being recognized as a new state in 1863—numerous attempts at breaking up California in recent years have all failed.
San Bernardino County wasn't the only case where secessionist movements gained a victory in these midterms.
Three counties in Illinois—Brown, Hardin, and the northeastern portion of Madison County—have passed referendums that technically allow initiating the process of secession from the state, joining some 24 that had already approved of similar non-binding measures.
In Oregon, a majority of residents in Morrow County and Wheeler County voted in favor of joining Idaho, moving the state line between the two states to create a "Greater Idaho."
Oregon counties vote ‘yes’ on secession from state: report
Measure EE asked the electorate whether San Bernardino County elected representatives should "study and advocate for all options to obtain the county's fair share of state funding, including secession from the State of California," according to the Voter Information Guide for San Bernardino County.
The possibility of seceding from California was added to the proposition by Jeff Burum, a real estate mogul, who said the state wasn't doing enough to help the county with its increased population.
At the moment, San Bernardino County counts some 2.18 million residents, the fifth-highest population in the entire state.
"I would never willfully want to leave this state," Burum told The San Bernardino Sun. "But I can tell you this, if you're just going to continue to abuse me and abuse us, sometimes you don't have a choice but to stand up for yourself."
He also suggested that the county be turned into a new state with the name of "Empire."
The measure, put to San Bernardino's voters on November 8, was passed 51.3 percent to 48.7.
Newsweek has contacted Burum and San Bernardino County for comment.
Will San Bernardino Actually Secede From California?
It's unlikely that San Bernardino will secede from California, even though the passing of this measure technically allows elected officials to initiate the project.
The measure is mostly symbolic, showing that the county is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it gets its "fair share" of state funding, including secession. But it's unclear whether a secession from the state would even be legally or constitutionally possible.
According to the Constitution, any secession must be approved by the State legislature and Congress.
Though there are cases in which previous secession attempts have worked out—Maine seceding from Massachusetts in 1820 and West Virginia being recognized as a new state in 1863—numerous attempts at breaking up California in recent years have all failed.
San Bernardino County wasn't the only case where secessionist movements gained a victory in these midterms.
Three counties in Illinois—Brown, Hardin, and the northeastern portion of Madison County—have passed referendums that technically allow initiating the process of secession from the state, joining some 24 that had already approved of similar non-binding measures.
In Oregon, a majority of residents in Morrow County and Wheeler County voted in favor of joining Idaho, moving the state line between the two states to create a "Greater Idaho."
Oregon counties vote ‘yes’ on secession from state: report
Bob Brigham - Yesterday
Map of© provided by RawStory
The secessionist movement by conservative Oregon counties seeking to join Idaho continues to gather steam.
"Residents in Morrow County and Wheeler County have voted in favor of a measure related to moving the state line between Oregon and Idaho, joining nine previous eastern Oregon counties to vote in support of 'Greater Idaho," KPTV reported. "The Oregon Secretary of State website shows on Wednesday afternoon that of 800 votes in Wheeler County, 58% were in favor, and of the 3,837 votes in Morrow County, 60% were in favor."
Harney County joined the movement in the 2021 election, joining, "Lake, Grant, Baker, Malheur, Union, Sherman, and Jefferson
According to the group pushing the idea, Citizens for Greater Idaho, there are now 11 counties that have supported the idea at the ballot box: Baker, Grant, Harney, Klamath, Jefferson, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, and Wheeler. The group says Wallowa will vote next.
Related video: The movement to expand Idaho's border into OregonDuration 5:38 View on Watch
KPTV noted, "like many of the previous votes, the measures approved on Tuesday did not directly address moving the state border."
There are significant procedural steps to allow the proposal to occur.
"For 'Greater Idaho' to become a reality, the state legislatures of both Oregon and Idaho would need to approve of the change, and that approval would then also need to be approved by Congress," KPTV reported. "Additionally, Idaho’s state constitution in Article XVII sets the name and boundaries of the state, which would need a state-wide vote to amend."
Citizens for Greater Idaho leader Mike McCarter released a statement following the vote.
“We call on the Legislature to let each half of the state go their separate ways in peace," McCarter said. "If western Oregon doesn’t like the risk of being forced to accept the gubernatorial candidate it voted against, then it should simply stop holding our counties captive in this unhappy marriage. Actually, it’s not even as dramatic as a divorce because we’re not breaking up a family."
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