Secession Movement Stalls At Ballot Box

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A break-away movement in far Northern California apparently sounded better in theory than in reality to voters in Tuesday's primary.

Two counties that considered identical advisory measures about creating a 51st state named Jefferson split the question, with voters in Del Norte County defeating it resoundingly and voters in Tehama County appearing to favor it, but by a slim margin. About 3,500 ballots in Tehama remain to be counted.

A similar question on the ballot in Siskiyou County, to rename it the Republic of Jefferson, failed with just 44 percent support.

Secession opponents said Wednesday the results show the desire to split from California is limited to a small, vocal group.

Supporters of forming a new state say they still have momentum and lost in Del Norte because of misinformation.

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