Now Congressman Gallagher Elevates California Split Push — County Momentum Meets Washington Power
- Rex Ballard
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
Filling the vacancy left by the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, James Gallagher won a special election to Congress in June and is heavily favored to win the full term in November. From his new perch in Washington, D.C., he can champion the inland two-state initiative that is already winning formal support from county boards across California — including Shasta.
Newly sworn-in Congressman James Gallagher (left) in Washington following his special-election victory. His elevation to the U.S. House gives the county-backed state-split effort a powerful new advocate inside the body that would ultimately have to approve any new state.
State Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher has transformed from a Sacramento-based champion of splitting California into two states into a sitting U.S. Congressman who can now press the case from Washington, D.C.
Following the unexpected passing of longtime Rep. Doug LaMalfa in January 2026, Gallagher won the June 2, 2026, special election outright with approximately 62% of the vote to finish the remainder of LaMalfa’s term in California’s 1st Congressional District. He was sworn into the U.S. House in mid-June. Gallagher is also the heavy favorite to win the full two-year term in November against Democrat Mike McGuire in this solidly Republican North State district.
This new national platform significantly strengthens the hand of an initiative that was already gaining ground through a deliberate county-by-county strategy.
County Resolutions Build Steam — At Least Seven Now On Board
Unlike activist-driven efforts such as Paul Preston’s long-running New California State movement (which has held conventions and operated parallel structures), Gallagher’s Assembly Joint Resolution 23 (AJR 23) is advancing by securing formal resolutions of support from elected county boards of supervisors.
As of mid-July 2026, at least seven counties have passed resolutions backing the proposal, with several more actively considering action. This elected official buy-in gives the effort a layer of governmental legitimacy that previous split attempts have often lacked.
Shasta County was an early mover. On November 6, 2025, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to support AJR 23 and the formation of a new inland state. Supervisors Chris Kelstrom and Corkey Harmon spoke in favor during the meeting where Gallagher himself presented the case. Dissenters raised practical questions about implementation and the long history of failed partition efforts.
Yuba County and Sutter County followed with unanimous support on May 26, 2026. The pattern is clear: rural and inland counties frustrated with one-size-fits-all policies from Sacramento are stepping forward.
The proposed new state would presumably include roughly 35 inland counties — Northern California, the Sierra, Central Valley, and Inland Empire areas — home to more than 10 million people. Shasta County sits squarely inside the proposed boundaries. The actual number remains flexible as each county will weigh in on participation in the initiative.
Why Gallagher’s Move to Congress Matters
Any actual creation of a new state requires approval by the California Legislature and the U.S. Congress under the Constitution. Having a sitting Member of Congress from the heart of the proposed new state — one who already shepherded the county-resolution strategy — changes the dynamics.
Gallagher can now:
Raise the issue directly with House leadership and colleagues.
Frame it as a federalism and representation question on a national stage.
Use his relationships and visibility to keep pressure on Sacramento.
Speak with the added authority of having won a congressional election in the very district most affected.
He has already described his new role with a mix of emotion and resolve, noting the loss of his mentor LaMalfa while emphasizing strong local support for continued conservative representation of the North State.
The Grievances Driving the Effort Remain
Gallagher has consistently pointed to policies he says disadvantage inland and rural Californians: water allocation that favors coastal interests, high energy and fuel costs, burdensome regulations on agriculture and trucking, wildfire management shortfalls, and a sense that Sacramento’s coastal-dominated supermajority no longer needs to listen to places like Shasta County.
Proposition 50’s passage (the temporary redistricting override) was cited as a major catalyst, further reducing inland congressional clout.
Even strong skeptics acknowledge that the underlying frustrations are real. Whether a full split ever occurs, the growing list of county resolutions forces a serious conversation about local control, fair representation, and whether California’s current structure still works for all its regions.
Realistic Outlook
Splitting a state remains extraordinarily difficult — legally, financially, and politically. More than 220 previous attempts have failed. Dividing assets, water rights, pensions, infrastructure, and debt would be immensely complex. Democratic supermajorities in Sacramento make legislative consent a steep climb.
Yet the strategy of starting with county boards has produced measurable momentum. Gallagher’s transition to Congress adds a new and potentially influential voice inside the institution whose approval would ultimately be required.
For Shasta County and the broader North State, this is no longer just a Sacramento debate. Their former Assemblyman — now their Congressman — is carrying the issue to Washington.
Shasta Unfiltered will continue following county resolutions, Gallagher’s work in Congress, and what this means for local representation and governance.
If you would like to get involved, reach out to castatesplit@gmail.com
