Former leader of UK's pro-Brexit party joins campaign to split California, creating new GOP stronghold

“This has been done before with West Virginia and Virginia and North and South Dakota, so it can work,” a Farage spokesman told the Daily Mail.

West Virginia split from Virginia during the Civil War after the larger state had seceded from the union. The breakaway counties of the state were officially recognized by the U.S. government as a state in 1863.

North and South Dakota, however, were never part of the same state. Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it was admitted to the union as part of the famous Missouri Compromise.

If California voters were to decide to split the state in two — which is widely perceived as unlikely — that might help persuade Republicans to give residents of the District of Columbia full constitutional rights as a state. At present, the nation’s capital has one member of the House of Representatives who can only vote on committee or procedural matters, but no representation in the U.S. Senate.

Full statehood for D.C. would almost certainly mean two new Democratic senators, but those could hypothetically be balanced out by two new Republicans from the conservative-leaning state carved out of inland California.

Video WATCH: Photographer Sheila Pree Bright demonstrates how little has changed in exhibit #1960NOW Pause Mute Current Time 1:23 / Duration Time 2:48 Loaded: 0%Progress: 0% Fullscreen There have been several unsuccessful efforts to subdivide California into different states. Another one, which is actually backed by the government of Russia, is trying to appeal to liberal Golden Staters to get them to secede from the United States entirely. SPONSORED STORIES Here Are the 25 Presidents with the Lowest IQ Scores Here Are the 25 Presidents with the Lowest IQ Scores InsideGov | By Graphiq Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest Buy Santa Monica House, report says Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest Buy Santa Monica House, report says Mansion Global 25 Celebrities That Vote Red 25 Celebrities That Vote Red PrettyFamous | By Graphiq Recommended by “This has been done before with West Virginia and Virginia and North and South Dakota, so it can work,” a Farage spokesman told the Daily Mail. West Virginia split from Virginia during the Civil War after the larger state had seceded from the union. The breakaway counties of the state were officially recognized by the U.S. government as a state in 1863. North and South Dakota, however, were never part of the same state. Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it was admitted to the union as part of the famous Missouri Compromise. If California voters were to decide to split the state in two — which is widely perceived as unlikely — that might help persuade Republicans to give residents of the District of Columbia full constitutional rights as a state. At present, the nation’s capital has one member of the House of Representatives who can only vote on committee or procedural matters, but no representation in the U.S. Senate. Full statehood for D.C. would almost certainly mean two new Democratic senators, but those could hypothetically be balanced out by two new Republicans from the conservative-leaning state carved out of inland California.