Independence movements

California independence advocacy

This bundle covers the contemporary "Calexit" California independence movement, from Louis Marinelli's 2015 founding of Yes California, its 2017 signature-drive collapse, and its 2024 dissolution as a political committee, to the separate 2026 and 2028 ballot-initiative efforts pursued by other proponents. Public-opinion polling is presented as an attributed survey finding, not as a measure of organised movement strength.

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What is this case about?

Louis Marinelli founded Yes California in 2015, initially under the name Sovereign California, explicitly inspired by the Yes Scotland campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[1] In April 2017, Marinelli abruptly disbanded the campaign and withdrew its ballot initiative after relocating to Russia, a decision that drew criticism from other California secession proponents.[2] Yes California ceased operating as a political action committee in 2024.[3] Separately, a 2026 ballot initiative would require an independence plebiscite with specified turnout and vote-share thresholds,[4] while a distinct 2028-targeted measure would require a state commission to study California's viability as an independent country.[5]

At a glance

  • Yes California, founded 2015, led the movement's first organised campaign before collapsing in 2017.[1][2]
  • Yes California dissolved as a political committee in 2024.[3]
  • Separate 2026 and 2028 ballot-initiative efforts are being pursued by other proponents.[4][5]

Current position

Status verified as of

California remains a state of the United States. Yes California, the movement's original organised vehicle, dissolved as a political committee in 2024. Two separate, unrelated ballot-initiative efforts were pursued for 2026 and 2028, respectively; neither had produced a completed statewide vote as of the last check.[3][4][5]

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History

History of California independence advocacy

From the 2015 founding of Yes California to the separate 2026 and 2028 ballot-initiative efforts.

77 words · 1 min read

Key dates

Full timeline

· Organisation founded

Founding of Yes California, 2015

The lead organisation of the contemporary Calexit movement was founded.

Significance here: The founding organisation of the contemporary California independence campaign.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: Louis Marinelli founded Yes California in 2015 (initially under the name Sovereign California), a campaign for California independence from the United States, explicitly inspired by the Yes Scotland campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

  2. 2.

    Claim: In April 2017, Marinelli abruptly disbanded the Yes California campaign and withdrew its proposed ballot initiative after relocating to Russia, ending the organisation's signature-gathering effort; the campaign faced criticism from other California secession proponents over the timing and circumstances of the withdrawal.

  3. 3.

    Claim: Yes California ceased operating as a political action committee in 2024.

  4. 4.

    Claim: A 2026 ballot initiative, if approved, would require an independence plebiscite asking California voters "Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?", with a result treated as an expression of the state's will only if turnout reached at least 50% and at least 55% of those voting chose "Yes."

    • California Independence Plebiscite Initiative (2026) (Ballotpedia) link, Initiative text section. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: A separate measure introduced by Fresno resident Marcus Evans, requiring more than 500,000 signatures to qualify, would require the state to create a 20-member commission to study California's viability as an independent country and publish a report the following year, targeting the 2028 ballot.

    • New "Calexit" bid for California secession approved for signature gathering (CBS News Sacramento) link, Measure description section. Source record

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