You must be from Madison or Milwaukee, Wisconsin since those two cities certainly fit the description.
About 40 years back, northern Wisconsin folks contemplated forming a new state called “State of Superior”. The plan included Upper Michigan, Northern Wisconsin and No. Eastern Minnesota. Obviously, it didn't happen.
A new state means two new senators.
I don’t think those would be left wing.
Two new states means four new senators. And so on.
For those reasons, I don’t think the establishment will permit it (unless they manage to get new states of their own—Puerto Rico, DC, etc.) to match.
East Tennessee = State of Franklin.