The horrifying result of the November 8th election confirmed our worst fear: Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States of America. Naturally, millions of Americans were outraged and many took to the streets in protests and shared their shock and rage on social media. One state, however, was more vocal than the rest and threatened much more than a peaceful protest. There is talk of California borrowing a page from the Brexit book and staging their own walk out. California is thinking about seceding from the United States, giving up their statehood and going it alone.  

How did California vote?
California has long been a Democratic stronghold and Tuesday night was no different. The state sent all 55 of their electoral votes Hillary Clinton’s way. She received 2.2 million more votes than Trump in polls across California. Clearly, California had chosen their next president. And in an election as divisive as this one, Trump winning is much more than just a loss for the Democratic party. It’s a loss for democracy itself. 

Points for them to leave
In support of the calexit movement, Californians are pointing to the financial success of their state. If California were to secede, it would have the sixth largest economy of any independent nation. They are the richest state in the country and often used to subsidize deficits in other states. Plus, their coastal location makes them an ideal candidate for seceding. They would simply become the independent nation to America’s west, instead of remaining landlocked within America if they had been located elsewhere. 

The idea was so popular that #calexit and #califrexit began trending on social media Tuesday night. They earned the support of local Californians and were backed by celebrity voices. 

History of states seceding
Unfortunately, no state has succeeded in seceding from the United States since the Civil War. While there has been talk of non-contiguous states Hawaii and Alaska joining closer nations or going it alone, no official movement has ever taken place. 

Getting serious about leaving
While calexit may seem like a lofty dream, much like the idea for London to secede after the Brexit decision, there are those who strongly believe in its validity. The group Yes California Independence Campaign began to mobilize even before the Trump presidency was secured. Capitalizing on this sudden incentive to secede, the group has planned events across the state to help gain support for their cause. They believe that many of California’s values do not line up with those held by the United States, especially not a United States with Trump at the help. They also point to the fact that California’s economy is used to bail out other states.  

Despite California’s strong economy, they would need a lot more to become a secure and independent nation. There are issues of governance, stability and relations with their former nation, who would be none too happy to see California leave. Sure, seceding might be tough. But at least they would be free from Trump.