New Proposal Could Divide California in Two — Where Does Simi Valley Fit?

California Republican Proposes Splitting State Into Two Amid Redistricting Fight

(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — A California lawmaker wants to split the state in two, reviving a political debate that has surfaced for more than a century but has never succeeded.

Assemblyman James Gallagher, the Republican minority leader, announced his plan in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting measure, Proposition 50, which goes before voters in November. Gallagher argues the measure will cut inland voters out of representation. He calls it a “Gavinmander.”

Under Gallagher’s plan, Ventura County — including Simi Valley — would remain part of the coastal state. That state would include Los Angeles and San Francisco, while a new inland state would be drawn from the Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada, and the far north. Gallagher says the inland state would have more than 10 million residents and would be larger than 40 other states.

The proposal does not assign names to the two states. In past efforts, supporters have floated terms like “North California” and “South California.” In 1859, the “Pico Act” called for a “Territory of Colorado” to be formed from Southern California. More recent proposals, such as the “Six Californias” and “Cal 3” plans, relied on regional names, while the far northern counties have long rallied around the idea of a “State of Jefferson.” Gallagher has not suggested names, but the history of California partition attempts shows how often this question has been raised.

A Familiar Political Battle
“We don’t want any part of a government that won’t give us a voice,” Gallagher said during a press conference. He argued that inland California could set its own policies on agriculture, energy, and transportation, rather than following rules made in Sacramento.

Newsom’s office quickly dismissed the idea. In a statement to ABC7, his staff said, “A person who seeks to split California does not deserve to hold office in the Golden State. This is a stunt that will go nowhere.”

Representative Judy Chu called the plan “ridiculous.”

Constitutional law experts say while the U.S. Constitution does provide a path for states to divide, it requires approval from both the California Legislature and Congress. With Democrats holding a supermajority in Sacramento, the plan has little chance of advancing. Gallagher has said if lawmakers block him, he may take the issue directly to voters through a ballot initiative.

California’s Long History of Division Attempts
Since becoming a state in 1850, California has seen more than 220 proposals to divide, with at least 27 considered serious efforts.

In 1859, the Legislature passed the “Pico Act,” which would have created a separate “Territory of Colorado” in Southern California. Voters approved it, but Congress never acted as the Civil War began. Ventura County would have been part of that territory.

• In 1941, northern California counties and southern Oregon counties declared themselves the “State of Jefferson,” but the effort collapsed after Pearl Harbor.
• In the 1960s, lawmakers debated a split into “North California” and “South California,” but it died in the Assembly.
• In 2014, venture capitalist Tim Draper’s “Six Californias” plan failed to qualify for the ballot.
• In 2018, Draper’s “Cal 3” initiative made the ballot but was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

What It Means for Ventura County
Simi Valley and Ventura County would clearly land in the coastal state under Gallagher’s proposal. The region’s identity makes the placement complicated. Simi Valley, a city of 126,000, has long been tied to Los Angeles as a commuter hub. At the same time, Ventura County remains one of California’s top agricultural producers, with $2.1 billion in crops in 2022. Strawberries, avocados, and lemons dominate, and farmland here is among the costliest in the country at $68,000 an acre.

This dual role — part suburb of Los Angeles, part agricultural center — makes Ventura County a microcosm of the larger state. Politically, Simi Valley leans more conservative than Los Angeles, meaning Gallagher’s message about rural and suburban voters being ignored may resonate more here than in coastal cities.

Beyond Policy: A Political Symbol
Analysts say Gallagher’s plan is unlikely to become law. But proposals to split California often serve another purpose: to highlight frustration with how the state is governed. For Simi Valley and Ventura County, the debate raises a familiar question: are we more tied to Los Angeles, or to inland farming regions that share our challenges with land and water?

For now, the plan faces steep odds. But it has once again forced Californians — and especially Ventura County residents — to ask whether one state can truly represent everyone.