What if Texas sub-divided into four additional states as our statehood treaty with the US allows? Eight additional Senators in the Senate - probably six Republicans and two Democrats.
This might be the time to seriously consider it.
I would prefer Texas not do that.
I think the US should break up into 5 regional countries.
North East
South
Mid-West
Moutain Region
Pacific Coast
But we should all collectively maintain a military.
And then we could have a North and South Illinois (where the majority of population is Cook County). South Illinois could live quite well without North Illinois. IMO
The division of Texas into five states (TX+4) is governed by the Annexation Resolution, which reads, "New States, of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution."
Article IV, section 3 of the US Constitution: "no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State ... without the consent of the legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress." That's a lot of legislative hoops. You'd have to convince Texans it's a good idea, elect a sectionist state legislature and governor, lobby Congress pretty hard, and pass a veto-proof resolution or get it signed.