California Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a bold plan to create a new state encompassing 35 inland counties.
The proposal is a direct response to Democratic-led redistricting efforts, which GOP leaders say undermine Republican representation in Congress.
Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 23, called “The Two State Solution,” at a Sacramento press conference.
The resolution would allow inland counties to form a separate state under Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which governs the creation of new states from existing ones.
Under this provision, any proposal to split a state requires formal approval not only from the state legislature but also from the U.S. Congress before it can take effect.
With Democrats holding supermajorities in both chambers, securing support presents a significant challenge, Just the News reports.
Gallagher framed the measure as a fight for the often-overlooked residents of inland California.
He highlighted the economic pressures facing families, small businesses, and truckers due to rising costs, regulatory burdens and limited political influence.
“I think this is about the trucker in the Inland Empire who is told he has to get rid of his truck because of the regulations in this state,” Gallagher said while unveiling a proposed map.
The inland state would cover the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, Northern California and the Inland Empire, home to roughly 10 million people. Coastal counties, which tend to lean Democratic, would remain part of California.
Gallagher noted that the boundaries could be adjusted to accommodate communities that wish to join the new state.
“Orange County, I hear you,” he said.
GOP lawmakers argue the proposal responds to Proposition 50, a temporary redistricting measure that would give Democrats five additional congressional seats.
Gallagher called the plan the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” asserting that inland residents have been systematically deprived of meaningful representation.
“When you strip us of all representation, when you deprive us of our voice, then we have no other option but to move forward in a civil way,” he said, according to the Washington Times.
Gallagher also drew a biblical analogy, comparing the initiative to Moses leading the Israelites from Egyptian oppression.
“He said to that king, ‘Let my people go,’” Gallagher said. “Well, on kind of the same token this morning, I’m saying, ‘Gavin, let my people go.’”
The resolution has seven Republican co-sponsors in the Assembly, with Sen. Megan Dahle co-authoring in the Senate.
Gallagher emphasized that communities included in the proposal would have the option to remain in California, underscoring flexibility in the plan.
Democratic leaders dismissed the effort. Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “a stunt that will go nowhere,” while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass labeled it an “act of political theater” with little chance of success.
The redistricting measure that sparked the GOP response will revert to the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2030.
If approved, the new inland state would give residents representation free from coastal dominance, offering an independent political voice.
Gallagher reported receiving inquiries from some coastal residents interested in joining, signaling that support could extend beyond the initially proposed boundaries
