I don' think that's quite right. It's not a backwater without economic output. Dems and esp Reps would try to woo the new state given the relative equilibrium in electoral college votes as well as in the senate.
Sacto really pays little attention to "Jefferson" They care much more about the noisy areas like SF and LA. Looks at how Sacto manages water rights. It's all about the cities. A Jefferson might become more assertive about their water and the rights to it.
Yes, they care more about the places with more voters and more taxpayers. Those counties mentioned in the article are experiencing net losses in population, even as the state grows.
It is not in their best interest to separate themselves from the economic powerhouses of SF and LA.
Sacto really pays little attention to "Jefferson" They care much more about the noisy areas like SF and LA. Looks at how Sacto manages water rights. It's all about the cities. A Jefferson might become more assertive about their water and the rights to it.