Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Republican Advisor Accuses Russia of Fueling California and Texas Secessionist Movements

**Sacramento, CA – January 28, 2025** – A renewed push for California to secede from the United States is raising concerns about potential Russian interference, according to Republican political strategist Ron Nehring. Nehring claims that while the CalExit movement claims to be grassroots, it’s been significantly boosted by Russian government-backed media and online trolls aiming to destabilize the U.S. A similar effort, Texit, in Texas, faces similar accusations.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber recently approved a petition drive aiming to place a secession referendum on the 2028 ballot. If the petition gathers the required 546,651 signatures by July 22, 2025, Californians will vote on whether the state should become independent. Even if passed, the vote would be non-binding, as state secession is unconstitutional.

Nehring, a former chair of the California Republican Party, argues that Russia’s goal isn’t actual secession, but to normalize the idea and sow discord within the United States. This assertion is supported by research from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which indicates Russian social media accounts have promoted these movements. Even Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president, has publicly joked about supporting the secessionist efforts.

Leaders of both CalExit and Texit deny any Russian influence. Marcus Evans, leading the CalExit campaign, claims this is the opportune moment for independence. Daniel Miller, head of the Texas Nationalist Movement, dismissed Nehring’s claims as “ridiculous and revealing,” asserting Texit is about reclaiming self-governance.

Despite the denials, Nehring maintains extensive evidence links these movements to Russian efforts to destabilize the United States. He points to years of documented activity by media outlets, intelligence agencies, and cybersecurity firms like Graphika. The debate highlights the growing political divisions within the U.S. and the potential for foreign influence to exacerbate them. The economic consequences of California and Texas—states with the largest GDPs—seceding would be significant.

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