Not sure what this is a reference to. The Highlands?
And California is obviously tough. If Country Blue insists on SD that’s both NorCal and SoCal and all access to the Pacific. Similarly, if there was an attempt to divide California down the middle into EasCal and WesCal, that issue still remains.
Would consider using The Basin and maybe some of the western Great Lakes regions in trade for the big blue cities left behind. New Orleans and Miami are some other notables moreso than those in Texas.