The growing movement to secede from Illinois and become the 51st state

July 5, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the fall of 2020, G.H. Merritt stood on the steps of a courthouse in western Illinois and recited the Declaration of Independence. Then she read a new one. “We the people of the counties of New Illinois,” she declared, “solemnly publish and declare that these counties are and of right ought to be a free and independent state.” Merritt is the chair of New Illinois, a movement that wants every county in the state except Cook County—home to Chicago—to secede and become the 51st state. The group sees itself as following in a fundamentally American tradition, not starting a new country, but exercising what they view as a right to leave a state that no longer represents them.

The grievance: taxation without representation

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What you'll learn

1 (00:04) **Episode Introduction** - Aisha Rosco introduces the Sunday story, framing the Declaration of Independence as a "breakup text" and a document of secession.
2 (01:39) **Introducing the New Illinois Movement** - Reporter Conor Town O'Neill explains the goal: all Illinois counties except Cook County (Chicago) would secede to form the 51st state.
3 (05:26) **The Grievances: "Taxation Without Representation"** - The movement's core argument mirrors the American Revolution.
4 (08:14) **The Economic Paradox of Secession** - Critics point out that rural counties benefit from Chicago's tax dollars, receiving more in state services than they pay in.
5 (10:11) **Proving Support: The Ballot Referendum Strategy** - Lorette Newland leads the Illinois Separation Referendum, putting non-binding advisory questions on county ballots.
6 (14:57) **Grassroots Organizing and Local Power** - The movement builds support through local lobbying and elected officials.
7 (16:16) **Cultural Identity and the "Two Illinois"** - Supporters describe a fundamental cultural divide between rural downstate and Chicago.

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Show Notes

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking the birth of a new nation. But if you read the Declaration closely, it’s not just about creating something new; it’s about ridding itself of something unwanted. It’s a break-up text, announcing secession from the British Crown. Today, that same spirit is fueling a modern-day movement in Illinois.

A growing number of rural counties want to secede from Illinois and create a 51st state called “New Illinois.” Driven by frustration over the dominance of Chicago politics, they are organizing for a new future. This week on The Sunday Story, reporter Connor Towne O'Neill takes us inside the movement to split Illinois, and the challenges facing a modern secessionist movement in the land of Lincoln.

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