Billionaire seeks to split California into 3 states

SAN FRANCISCO – A billionaire said he has enough support to ask Californians if they want to divide the nation’s most populous state into three states.

Venture capitalist Tim Draper said he plans to deliver more than 600,000 signatures next week to be verified by California’s secretary of state. More than 366,000 are needed to put the question on the November ballot.

Efforts in recent years have failed to reach voters and Congress would get the final say if the Cal 3 initiative succeeds.

Supporters said the state has grown too large to meet the needs of Californians. But opponents said creating three states will do nothing to solve California’s economic and political problems.

Draper has proposed creating California, Northern California and Southern California. However, residents would decide the names.