Rural counties across the US are trying to secede from Dem-compromised blue states



Taken for granted by big-city leftists and tired of ruinous Democratic policies they haven't the numbers to change, conservative counties across the U.S. are looking to join red states or form their own.

In Oregon, over a dozen rural red counties have voted in support of moving the state border westward and joining their conservative compatriots in Idaho — a red state where Citizens for Greater Idaho president Mike McCarter noted the legislature "is controlled by representatives from rural districts, who govern according to the concerns and priorities of rural counties."

"There is a way to get better governance for central and eastern Oregon," said Carter. "The current location of the Oregon/Idaho border was decided 165 years ago and is now outdated because it doesn't match the location of the dividing line between the counties that prefer Idaho's style of governance and counties that prefer Oregon's style of governance."

On the other side of the country, 33 Illinois counties have signaled support for forming a new state, New Illinois, in a manner similar to how West Virginia split from Virginia in 1863. According to the nonpartisan nonprofit New Illinois,

The goal of New Illinois is to see a new state established that truly represents its rural, small town and suburban citizens — a state free from the stranglehold of corruption in Illinois government, which grants disproportionate representation to certain cronies, groups such as public sector unions, and urban areas — in particular, Chicago and Cook County.

Phil Gioja of Watseka, Illinois, recently told the Wall Street Journal that he was among the 72.85% of voters in Iroquois County who voted "yes" in answer to the question, "Shall the board of Iroquois County correspond with the boards of other counties of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?"

'For the betterment of mankind, you need to pursue it.'

"There's a lot of people in Chicago, and I think that they make a lot of decisions that affect people downstate," said Gioja. Chicago is home to over 40% of Illinois' population. "It's just sending a message that, 'Hey, you know, there's people that would like to be part of the conversation, and often aren’t.'"

The Illinois separation referendum won in seven counties where it was on the ballot Nov. 5. That means that roughly one-third of the state now supports ditching Chicago.

In 2013, voters in 11 Colorado counties were asked whether they wanted to break away and form their own state, "North Colorado." Majorities in Phillips, Kit Carson, Yuma, Cheyenne, and Washington County voted in favor of secession. Exasperated residents in Weld County, Colorado, tried a different angle in 2021, pushing to become part of Wyoming. Colorado has yet to lose ground.

Six Republican state legislators in Maryland representing the Trump-supporting counties Garret, Allegany, and Washington reportedly asked West Virginia in 2021 to consider a merger. Legal historian Cynthia Nicoletti of the University of Virginia School of Law told the New York Times, "I find it hard to imagine that the Maryland legislature would vote to allow them to leave and thus consent to divide the state."

There have been hundreds of similar attempts to break up California, many in hopes of liberating rural counties from the control of the populous Democratic enclaves on the coast.

Dozens of northern Californian counties that voted for Trump in the past three elections are among those that have long contemplated forming the "State of Jefferson." Former Republican state Assemblyman Bill Maze alternatively sought an east-west divorce, cutting the 13 coastal counties off from the remaining 45 counties.

Paul Preston, founder of New California State, issued a proclamation earlier this year that he and others were still keen on creating a new state — not to be confused with Jeff Burum's "Empire" state, which would alternatively consist only of San Bernardino County.

'They have seceded from the Union already.'

San Bernardino County has signaled resistance to Sacramento in other ways in recent years, such as its lawsuit to stop Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's draconian lockdown policies during the pandemic. It is also home to efforts to bolster parental rights as well as resistance to Democrat-supported LGBT propaganda in the classroom.

Burum, a real estate developer from Rancho Cucamonga, recently told CalMatters, "If you can see a path to get there, then for the betterment of mankind, you need to pursue it."

Article IV, section III of the U.S. Constitution states

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

Preston apparently thinks that West Virginia paved the way to get around the requirement that the California Legislature sign off on his new state. West Virginia's breakaway was approved without the consent of Virginia's legislature, since the rebel state had voted to secede in 1861.

Preston told the Journal that he will petition Congress for statehood, arguing that California's Democratic government is "a one-party communist state, and technically, they have seceded from the Union already."

Jason Mazzone, a constitutional law professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said, "It seems far-fetched. But we live in uncertain times. So if you've got the right people in Congress — and I don't think we do have the right people in Congress — you could do it."

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[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-15-at-5.05.43 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-15-at-5.05.43%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]'[O]ur citizens encourage continued discussions ... regarding the possibility of a westward relocation of the Oregon-Idaho border ... .'

13th Oregon county secures approval to ditch Democrat-compromised state to join Idaho



The "Greater Idaho" movement continues to gain steam, promising to liberate conservative counties east of the Deschutes River from the ruinous policies and Democratic control all but ensured by residents in the more populous leftist areas nearer the coast, such as Mayor Ted Wheeler's crime-ravaged Portland.

On Tuesday, Crook County voters were presented with ballot measure 7-86, which asked: "Should Crook County represent that its citizens support efforts to move the Idaho state border to include Crook County?"

The majority signaled their support for moving the state border westward and joining their conservative compatriots in the Gem State.

The arguments

Those opposed to the measure unsuccessfully argued against 7-86 in the State Voters' Pamphlet that joining Idaho was problematic because:

  • Idaho, unlike Oregon, is pro-life;
  • Idaho, unlike Oregon, has a sales tax and a lower minimum wage;
  • Idaho is not as fast and loose when it comes to voter registration;
  • "Idaho does not allow Video Poker Machines in retail establishments";
  • Moving the border might undercut Oregon's recreational drug sales;
  • "Idaho has no state sponsored healthcare plan for low-income residents"; and
  • Newly minted Idaho residents will have to pay "out of state fees" for hunting, fishing, and camping activities on the Oregon coast.

A loss of voters might also mean Oregon could lose representatives in Congress.

Citizens for Greater Idaho president Mike McCarter, a firearms instructor from the town of LaPine, alternatively argued, "There is a way to get better governance for central and eastern Oregon. The current location of the Oregon/Idaho border was decided 165 years ago and is now outdated because it doesn't match the location of the dividing line between the counties that prefer Idaho's style of governance and counties that prefer Oregon's style of governance."

McCarter further noted the residents of Crook County would receive better representation in Idaho, where the state legislature "is controlled by representatives from rural districts, who govern according to the concerns and priorities of rural counties."

McCarter, whose organization has elsewhere suggested that "only 25% of Oregonians who are registered to vote are registered Republican," stressed that the alternative would be to continue living under the thumb of Oregon politicians who "don't understand how we make a living. Their decisions damage industries like timber, mining, trucking, ranching and farming."

'When you go to seek redress and your government doesn't listen to you, where do you turn?'

Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R) recently told CNN, "Constitutionally, people should have the opportunity to seek redress from their government."

"When you go to seek redress and your government doesn't listen to you, where do you turn?" she continued. "These people were seeking redress from the next best thing, which would be us."

Greater Idaho executive director Matt McCaw similarly suggested in the voters pamphlet, "The right to choose our own government is a foundational principle of the United States. It's why we hold votes for government office, redistrict every ten years, and have an initiative system that allows voters to refer issues directly to the ballot. The goal of all of these systems is to get government that people actually want and that matches their values."

"East-side Oregonians have little voice in their own state government, even less political power, and get a steady barrage of policies forced on us that we don't want and don't reflect our community or values," added McCaw.

Evidently, 53.44% of Crook County voters cared more about regaining a political say over their fates than abortion rights, automatic voter registration, sales tax, and slot machines, saying "yes" to ballot measure 7-86. The votes will not be certified until June.

The response

"The voters of eastern Oregon have spoken loudly and clearly about their desire to see border talks move forward," McCaw said in a statement. "We call on the governor, speaker of the House, and Senate president to sit down with us and discuss next steps towards changing governance for eastern Oregonians, as well as for the legislature to begin holding hearings on what a potential border change will look like."

"What they're telling us through these votes is that they want their leaders to move the border. In our system, the people are the ones in charge, and it's time for the leaders representing them to follow through," said McCarter.

Greater Idaho suggested that the "yes" vote would likely have been more substantial were it not for the opposition campaign bankrolled by Portland groups.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little indicated in 2020 — as the first of the eastern Oregon counties began to vote in favor of leaving Oregon to its troubles — that he liked the idea of a "Greater Idaho."

Little told "Fox & Friends" that he understood "what takes place in the Portland area has a big impact on those rural parts of Oregon, and I understand they're looking at Idaho fondly because of our regulatory atmosphere, our values. That doesn't surprise me one bit."

Little noted, however, there would be various legal "hurdles" prospective western Idahoans would have to clear first. The U.S. Congress and both the Oregon and Idaho state legislatures would have to approve the border shift.

KOIN-TV noted that the Idaho legislature passed a measure last year to begin conversations with Oregon lawmakers about the initiative.

Ahead of the talks, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) quipped, "I would entertain a trade for Boise and Sun Valley."

Extra to Crook County, the following counties have reportedly passed measures in favor of joining Idaho: Sherman; Morrow; Union; Wallowa; Jefferson; Wheeler; Grant; Baker; Malheur; Harney; Lake; and Klamath.

While there has long been an interest in moving the border, Democrat-championed COVID restrictions reportedly helped provide the movement with the traction it needed to get where it is today.

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Fed up with leftist politics, 5 Oregon counties vote to join Idaho



The state of Oregon is literally driving residents away with its progressive policies.

On Tuesday, thousands of residents from rural counties in the Beaver State voted for their elected officials to consider seceding from the state and becoming part of conservative neighbor Idaho.

Disgruntled voters in Sherman, Lake, Grant, Baker, and Malheur counties voted in favor of the proposition, joining two other counties — Union and Jefferson — that already approved the move during the November election, the Idaho Statesman reported.

With the majority of constituents voting in favor of the resolution, county commissioners in each of the seven counties are now reportedly tasked with meeting together to discuss moving forward with the measure.

The push is part of larger initiative called "Greater Idaho," which aims to relocate as many as 22 Oregon counties to a state that more accurately represents them politically.

On the project's website, organizers argue, "The purpose of having state lines is to allow this variance. The Oregon/Idaho border was established 161 years ago and is now outdated. It makes no sense in its current location because it doesn't match the location of the cultural divide in Oregon."

And it's not only unhappy Oregon counties that the project is after. Greater Idaho is looking to attract more conservative counties in southeastern Washington and northeastern California, as well.

Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little is reportedly in favor of the measure, but acknowledged that it has a long way to go before becoming a reality.

He said in a statement, "I understand why many people want to be Idahoans. They're looking at Idaho fondly because of our strong economy, regulatory atmosphere and our values. Still, the decision to change Idaho and Oregon's borders would need to go through both states' legislatures and the U.S. Congress for approval. There's a lot that needs to happen before the border is within the realm of possibility."

As Little stated, the measure would need to be approved by both the Idaho and Oregon state legislatures before heading to the U.S. Congress, which is currently controlled by Democrats, for final approval. It's safe to say that, at this point, the move looks like a long shot to succeed.

But organizers of the project call the move a "win-win" for the interests of each of the states involved, since the proposal is not aiming to create a new state and thus will not affect the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Nevertheless, despite its current prospects in the state legislatures and U.S. Congress, it appears that the movement is picking up steam among residents.

"This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon. If Oregon really believes in liberal values such as self-determination, the Legislature won't hold our counties captive against our will," Mike McCarter, president of Citizens for Greater Idaho, said in a news release. "If we're allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well."