Kamala Harris becoming president could lead to a “surge” in support for the Texas secessionist movement, Texas Nationalist Movement President Daniel Miller told Newsweek.
Texas nationalists have long pushed for a vote about whether the state should secede from the United States and become an independent country. Their cause gained national attention earlier this year during a dispute between Texas and federal authorities about immigration as the U.S. was dealing with a high number of migrant crossings.
This year has seen the Texas secession movement win some victories, including the state’s Republican Party calling for a referendum about whether the state should “reassert its status as an independent nation” in the next legislative session.
But it remains to be seen if the movement, which has generally been supported by more-conservative Texans, has gained broader support among the state’s population, particularly as the state undergoes political shifts that have made it more competitive for Democrats in recent election cycles.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Washington, D.C., on Monday. A leader of the Texas independence movement says support for secession could “surge” if Harris becomes president.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Miller told Newsweek on Monday that a Harris presidency “could be the catalyst for a massive increase in TEXIT support.”
On Sunday, President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race following weeks of pressure from Democrats concerned about his ability to mount a robust campaign against Donald Trump. Biden endorsed Harris to lead the ticket, and the party is quickly coalescing around the vice president.
“If Harris wins, expect TEXIT support to surge. Texans are fed up with Washington’s interference, and Harris’ policies will likely continue this trend, fueling the desire for independence,” Miller said.
He pointed to Harris’ policy positions on immigration and energy as potentially fueling support for Texas independence.
“As Biden’s border czar, Harris bears major responsibility for the border crisis, which is Texas’ number one concern. Texas’s vital energy sector could also be threatened by Harris’ agenda, and Texans know how to manage their economy without federal constraints. Texans believe in self-governance, and any federal policies that undermine our values will push more Texans towards TEXIT,” Miller said.
Notably, the White House has not referred to Harris as its “border czar,” a term that has been used in the media after she led the administration’s diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from some Central American countries.
Miller said that “Texans are ready to control their own future and are tired of federal overreach. The fight for independence is on, and we’re not backing down,” he said.
Newsweek reached out via email to Harris’ campaign for comment.
Earlier this year, a Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll conducted among 814 Texas voters for Newsweek found that 39 percent of respondents opposed secession, while 33 percent supported it.
In a hypothetical secessionist referendum, 67 percent said they would vote for Texas to remain a U.S. state, while only 23 percent said they would vote for Texas to become an independent country, according to Redfield & Wilton.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.