Texas was its own nation independent of any other for ten years between gaining its independence from Mexico in 1836 and joining the United States in 1846. Nearly 180 years later, could Texas be on the verge of becoming an independent republic again?

Last week, at the Texas Republican Party state convention, a call for the state legislature to place a referendum on the statewide general election ballot in 2023 concerning Texas seceding from the US was included in the state party’s platform. The platform section dealing with the matter reads as follow:

Texas Independence: We urge the Texas Legislature to pass [a] bill in its next session requiring a referendum in the 2023 general election for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.

Republicans hold every elected statewide office in Texas as well as majorities in the state’s Senate and House of Representatives.

Such popular votes on independence have been important steps in the process of member political entities moving out of larger political unions. Consider, for example, the “Brexit” vote of 2016 that led to Great Britain’s exit from the European Union. Looking to this recent example from Europe, some people have been using the name “Texit” to refer to the move toward reestablishing Texas independence.

Reprinted with permission from the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.