What is CalExit?
CalExit is the shorthand for the idea that California should leave the United States and become an independent country. It’s not one organization, one ballot measure, or one plan — it’s an umbrella term for a loose movement that has surfaced repeatedly in California politics, most visibly after the 2016 presidential election, when “#Calexit” briefly took over social media, the release of the CALEXIT comic in 2017, and again since Trump’s 2024 election.
If you’re wondering how seriously to take it: the honest answer is that it’s a real, persistent position. Support in public polls for explicit secession has ranged from about 14% to a record 44% depending on when and how the question is asked. And in a recent poll, 71% of Californians said the state would be better off with special autonomous status while remaining within the U.S. Our record of California independence polling since 2014 shows how much those numbers have moved.
The movement is diffuse, which complicates things. There have been failed efforts to put the idea on the ballot, despite the concept’s popularity. Currently, most of the activity is focused on the California National Party, a small independence party that runs candidates for office but is not yet one of California’s ballot-qualified parties.
Is it even achievable? How? There are a variety of opinions. We set out the arguments for and against California independence side by side, and cover whether a state can legally secede under Texas v. White, the 1869 Supreme Court decision both sides cite.
This website is dedicated to highlighting the various groups, efforts, and polls that may well shape the future of the state. If you’re new to the subject, the frequently asked questions about CalExit are the fastest way in.
Explore the facts
The arguments
The case for and the case against California independence, as each side actually makes it.
The polling
Every public poll on California independence, charted over time with sources.
The FAQ
Is it legal? Has it been tried? What would happen to Social Security? Quick answers.
The legality
Can a state legally leave? What Texas v. White (1869) actually held — and what scholars still argue.
Related organizations & references
These groups and works engage with the topic. Listing them here is informational — this site is not affiliated with, funded by, or endorsing any of them.
California National Party
A minor political party (founded 2015) advocating California independence through peaceful, democratic means.
Independent California Institute
A nonprofit think tank studying California independence and autonomy options since 2018; commissions the YouGov “Independent California Poll” series.
Red Star Report
A media outlet and podcast covering the California independence movement; self-described as the movement’s “media wing.”
CALEXIT (comic)
A dystopian comic-book series by Matteo Pizzolo (Black Mask Studios, 2017–), imagining California’s armed resistance to a federal mass-deportation order. It is a work of fiction, not part of the movement.
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