A Republican leader from California proposed dividing the state into two.

The Republican leader of the Legislative Assembly of California,James Gallagher, announced his intention to introduce a resolution to split the state in two in response to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to redraw the state's electoral districts.

Gallagher described his proposal as a "two-state solution," a phrase generally associated with international conflicts such as the Middle East, but in this case aims to represent the growing political and cultural divide between California's Democratic-leaning coastal areas and the rural interior, which has a Republican majority.

The resolution, which will be introduced as Assembly Joint Resolution 23 (AJR 23), proposes the creation of a new state made up of 35 counties from California's interior.

This new entity would include much of the northern part of the state, the Sierra Nevada, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire, adding up to more than 10 million residents. If realized, this new state would be one of the most populous in the country, with an immediate impact on national political representation and significantly weakening California's current political influence, which has traditionally been dominated by Democrats.

Gallagher argued that rural voters have been systematically ignored by Sacramento, and stated that the new proposal seeks to protect their political rights in the face of a system he considers unfair.

"The people of inland California have been ignored for too long," he declared in an official statement. He also noted that this measure is a direct response to Newsom's plan, which is seen as an attempt to manipulate the state's electoral map to consolidate Democratic power.

The national context is key in this debate. Efforts in both Texas and California to redesign electoral maps could have significant consequences for the composition of the United States Congress.

While Republicans accuse Democrats of wanting to silence the rural electorate, Democrats maintain that their actions seek to correct historical imbalances and ensure fair representation.

Although these proposals to split California are not new, several have emerged in recent decades without success, this initiative is gaining momentum again in an increasingly polarized national political climate. The difference this time lies in the direct response to specific legislative actions and the support of several state Republican lawmakers.

Gallagher has scheduled a press conference to formally present his proposal, where he hopes to gain additional support for his cause. In his plan, the new state would include neighboring counties of Los Angeles such as Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino, the latter of which had previously raised the possibility of separating from the rest of California.