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The eastern Oregon county, which votes GOP, will be the 12th to vote to leave the Democratic state and become part of the conservative Idaho, despite local lawmakers refusing to let them go.
- Eleven eastern Oregon counties have voted to join Idaho so far
- Wallowa County is poised to be the last to adopt the measure, leaving four more in the Greater Idaho movement plan.
- The effort seeks to shift state lines so that Republican-leaning counties in Oregon can become part of western Idaho.
- However, to actually change state borders, it would need to be approved by legislators in Oregon, Idaho, and the US Congress.
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A county in eastern Oregon has filed a petition to become the 12th to vote to leave the Democratic state and become part of the conservative Idaho.
Wallowa County residents could see the option presented to them on ballots next May as part of the Greater Idaho movement, which seeks to shift Republican-leaning counties in Oregon to the neighboring state.
Eleven eastern Oregon counties have voted in favor of this so far, and four other counties, including Wallowa, are included in the proposal to move state lines.
Regardless of how residents vote, actually changing state lines would require approval by lawmakers in Oregon, Idaho, and the US Congress.
Eleven eastern Oregon counties have voted to join Idaho so far. Wallowa County will be the last to adopt the measure, leaving four more in the Greater Idaho plan.
In a statement about Wallowa’s petition, Greater Idaho spokesman Matt McCaw said many residents were in favor of splitting, citing two of the group’s votes last month in which the measure won 51. percent.
“That means eastern Oregon came within one percentage point of banning them,” McCaw said. “Western Oregon would be free from our interference if they would stop holding eastern Oregon captive and allow our communities to join Idaho.”
The push to carve up Oregon came amid a hotly contested gubernatorial race, as it appeared the state was about to elect its first Republican executive in 40 years.
However, Republican candidate Christine Drazan, the Republican leader in the state House, fell short in her effort against Democrat Tina Kotek.
Kotek, the state’s first openly gay woman to serve as a speaker, will succeed outgoing Gov. Kate Brown, who has dismissed the Greater Idaho Movement and previous GOP attempts to remove her from office.
The move to divide the state along political leanings came into focus after a close gubernatorial race in which Democrat Tina Kotek (right) won to succeed Kate Brown (right).
The Greater Idaho movement is led by Mike McCarter (pictured), who argued that eastern and western Oregon were too different as he seeks to move 15 counties to Idaho.
The leader of the Greater Idaho movement, Mike McCarter, said the close election showed that the two sides of Oregon are standing between each other.
“If Western Oregon doesn’t like the risk of being forced to accept the gubernatorial candidate they voted against, then they should simply stop holding our counties captive in this unhappy marriage,” McCarter said.
“Actually, it’s not even as dramatic as a divorce because we’re not breaking up a family. Moving a state border is akin to redistributing a utility provider,” she added.
McCaw said it has become increasingly apparent that eastern and western Oregon are too different places and that while the dichotomy was also affecting the ability of the left to pass progressive legislation.
“If Oregon had let Harney County go when it voted for our measure, then a Harney County judge would not have stopped Oregon’s gun control initiative from taking effect statewide,” McCaw said. ‘Now his court order could stand for a couple of years while he decides the case.
Harney County is ranch and Portland is not. It makes no sense for these two cultures to dictate policies to each other.’
Idaho Gov. Brad Little said the move was unlikely to succeed.
While Idaho Governor Brad Little said he was sympathetic to the Greater Idaho cause, he acknowledged that it was not likely to go anywhere.
“There are a lot of things that need to happen before moving the border is within the realm of possibility,” Little said.
Although Republicans are poised to take over Congress in 2023, the ability to ultimately change state lines would also need the approval of Oregan lawmakers, who have previously opposed the move.