Category: Fair Representation

One-person-one-vote, reasonably sized legislative districts, and more

Plentiful Popplies. By Kevin (slworking2 on Flickr). CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Poll: Californians ready to govern themselves, stop just short of secession

ICI June 29, 2025

50% of Californians say they trust Sacramento more than Washington—only 23% say the reverse.

71% say California would be better off with special autonomous status within the U.S.

44% of Californians would vote for a ballot measure for peaceful, legal secession—but 54% would vote against.

72% of Californians want California police to arrest federal immigration officers that exceed their authority or act maliciously.

80% of Californians want to control borders with other states “like a country.”

Californians endorse more than a dozen changes to state policy that would make California more autonomous.

the-drain-logo

The Drain (podcast): California Independence, with Coyote Marin of the Independent California Institute

ICI April 29, 2025

Did you know that California recently passed Japan as the fourth largest economy in the world? It’s true. Even within the US, our state is a powerhouse, comprising 1/7 of the US economy.

In fact, California put $83 billion more into the country in taxes in 2022 than we received in programs and benefits. That’s what we call a donor state.

Add all of that to Washington, D.C. spiraling deeper into fascism every day, and it’s worthwhile asking if the people of California would be better off on their own.

ca-population-taxes-spending

What it Means to be a Donor State

C.C. Marin March 14, 2025

Is it accurate to describe the federal funding California gets as California’s own money? Would the U.S. be poorer and weaker without California? Does California’s economy prop up red states? Is California one of the states least reliant on the federal government?

The short answer to all these questions is yes. But it’s pretty hard to win a debate with just one data point.

California flag trying to escape

Poll: As Trump Is Inaugurated, Californians Seek Independence

ICI January 19, 2025

Highlights: 61% of Californians polled say California would be better off if it peacefully seceded. 77% say California should control its state borders “more like a country”. 63% support using hardball tactics in the U.S. House to gain autonomy. Californians now feel more Californian than American overall.

Please submit press inquiries to press@ic.institute.

Photo credit: Ken Lund via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Democracy Local: How to Achieve Local Autonomy

ICI November 2, 2024

Fully 68% of Californians believe that California would be better off if California negotiated a special autonomous status within the U.S., according to a poll that my think tank, the Independent California Institute, commissioned from YouGov earlier this year…. Why might Californians want more independence from the federal government?