Cascadia Activists Pursue 2028 Secession Ballot Measures in Washington and Oregon
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Cascadia Activists Pursue 2028 Secession Ballot Measures in Washington and Oregon
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Summary
Andrew Engelson and Cascadia Democratic Action are trying to build support for 2028 ballot measures in Washington and Oregon that would ask voters about secession from the United States.
Seattle events including a poetry reading are part of that push, framing Cascadia as a shared bioregion spanning Northern California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
The campaign reflects broader U.S. separatist sentiment driven by frustration and political disempowerment, with small but vocal movements also active in Texas, California and southeastern New Mexico.
Political scientist Ryan Griffiths said secessionism is now “in the zeitgeist,” even as his 2025 book argues such efforts are unlikely to succeed.