Liberals in Southern Arizona Seek to Form New State

A long-simmering movement by liberal stalwarts in southern Arizona to break away from the rest of the largely conservative state is at a boiling point as secession backers press to bring their longshot ambition to the forefront of Arizona politics.

A group of lawyers from the Democratic stronghold of Tucson and surrounding Pima County have launched a petition drive seeking support for a November 2012 ballot question on whether the 48th state should be divided in two.

The ultimate goal of the newly formed political action committee Start our State is to split Pima County off into what would become the nation’s 51st state, tentatively dubbed Baja Arizona.

Backers have until July 5 next year to collect the 48,000 signatures required to qualify for a spot on the ballot. If they succeed, it would mark only the first hurdle in a long, circuitous process that even the most determined of supporters readily acknowledge has little chance of bearing fruit.

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U.S. history is replete with efforts to carve one state from another–from the creation of Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1790s to more modern misfires like proposals to partition Long Island from New York or to split California in half.

The last successful intrastate secession movement was the formation of West Virginia during the Civil War.

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Partisan tensions have long been a fact of life between left-leaning Pima County and a Phoenix-based political establishment that has produced such conservative giants as Barry Goldwater and John McCain.

But the rift was heightened during the past two years as Republican Governor Jan Brewer and her allies in control of the statehouse pursued a political agenda Democrats saw as extreme, including a crackdown on illegal immigration and proposals, ultimately unsuccessful, to nullify some federal laws.

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The ballot measure sought by Arizona secession backers is a nonbinding measure asking Pima County voters if they support petitioning state lawmakers for permission to break away.

Before secession could occur, it would have to be approved separately by the Legislature, and by a second, binding referendum by residents of the proposed state.

If the Legislature refused, organizers could try to sidestep lawmakers with a statewide referendum. If both the Legislature and Pima County voters agreed, then it would be up to the U.S. Congress to grant Baja Arizona formal statehood.

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“It sure sends a message to the rest of the world that we aren’t like the folks in Maricopa (County),” he said, referring to the state’s population center and capital.

But a more historical precedent can be found in Arizona’s origins as a U.S. territory, more than half a century before statehood was granted in 1912. The northern bulk of Arizona was ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1848, six years before the lower portion of the territory, south of the Gila River, was separately acquired in 1854 under the Gadsden Purchase.

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Thursday wasn’t just Cinco de Mayo in the Old Pueblo, it was Free Baja Arizona day. A day commemorated ever since the Pima County board of supervisors, passed a resolution in 1987.

The “Start our State” movement is using the day to kick start its drive for signatures. And the movement is gathering some attention.

The movement supporters want to secede from Arizona and join the U.S. as the 51st state.

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“We’re celebrating free Baja Arizona Day today,” said Peter Hormel from Start our State.

Beer, popcorn and talk of secession this wasn’t your average Cinco de Mayo celebration.

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The goal is to secede from Arizona. To do that, they put pen to paper and signed petitions.

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Even supporters say success is unlikely.

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Secession supporters have their work cut out for them. They have until July 5, 2012 to collect over 47,000 signatures. If those are collected, voters will get to decide what they want to do.