It will never happen, but if you’re wondering what that proposed state of “South California” would look like, geographically and politically . . .
(Map courtesy of this cartographic program.)
Those blue counties have about 13 million people, which would make it the country’s fifth most populous state, behind Texas, New York, Florida, and what’s left of California. It would have roughly 20 congressional districts and 22 electoral votes. It would also be heavily Republican.
Again, it will never happen; Congress and the state legislature would have to agree . . . but I wonder how many Republicans will dream of taking 22 electoral votes out of the Democrats’ column in presidential races and into the GOP one.