Break away from California? Voters in northern counties split

Ballot measures proposing that Northern California counties secede and form their own state appeared headed in differing directions in Tuesday’s election.

With most ballots counted, voters in Del Norte County were rejecting the measure, which would call on the Board of Supervisors to take up the matter and officially discuss supporting the secession movement.

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FOR THE RECORD

A headline on an earlier version of this post stated that voters in Northern California counties were rejecting measures to secede from the state. Two counties appeared split, with one county supporting approval and another rejecting secession.

An earlier version of this post stated that, based on preliminary election results, two of three Northern California counties appeared to have rejected a movement to secede from the state. Only Del Norte County voted to reject the measure. Voters in Tehama County appeared likely to approve secession. The post also stated that Siskiyou County rejected a measure to secede. Voters in that county were weighing a name for a proposed new state, which appeared headed for rejection. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors previously endorsed secession.

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In Tehama County, however, an identical measure was headed safely to victory.

A movement for a State of Jefferson — a grouping of Northern California counties that would separate from California — has been gaining steam since late last year, when the secession movement was revived by residents who complain of overregulation, lack of representation and a culture clash with urban areas.

Before a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the mid-1960s, each California county — with a few exceptions for the tiniest — had its own state senator. But as both legislative houses adopted a system based on population and a rural exodus accelerated, the far north was left feeling voiceless.

Separation under the U.S. Constitution requires a vote of the state Legislature and Congress. But exactly how the finances would work remains a point of debate — and even ridicule in more urban circles.