Developing: 13 Conservative Counties in Progressive Oregon Approve Measure for Secession
By Rachel M. Emmanuel
May 22, 2024 at 1:01pm
In some states across the nation, the urban-rural split manifests in a dramatic political divide: A couple of large cities overwhelmingly dominate statewide elections and policies, often overshadowing the preferences of the rest of the state.
In Oregon, the state’s two largest cities, Portland and Eugene, along with their surrounding metro areas, are considered among the most liberal in the country. The policy preferences of these urban progressive voters essentially dictate Oregon’s statewide positions.
However, travel outside of those population centers into rural eastern Oregon, and you’ll find communities with far more conservative values, leaning largely Republican.
Now, tired of not being represented by their state, 13 counties in Oregon have voted to start talks about secession from Oregon to join the neighboring conservative state of Idaho in a measure called the “Greater Idaho” proposal.
The plan calls for moving the Oregon-Idaho border roughly 200 miles westward, which would transfer around 14 entire counties and portions of several others from Oregon into Idaho, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail.
Supporters argue this would better align the region politically and culturally with the more conservative values of Idaho, which enjoys lower taxes, fewer gun restrictions and higher value for life, versus the progressive policies coming out of the liberal cities dominating Oregon politics, according to the New York Times.
A Republican has not been elected Oregon governor in four decades. Environmental regulations have constrained industries like timber, crucial to eastern economies, the New York Times reported.
“The voters of eastern Oregon have spoken loudly and clearly about their desire to see border talks move forward,” the website for the movement claims. “With this latest result in Crook County, there’s no excuse left for the Legislature and Governor to continue to ignore the people’s wishes. 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.”
Poster Comment:
This would be a logistical and monetary nightmare.
In Cook County (Chicago), Illinois there was a movement to have the northwest part of Cook County secede and form Lincoln County.
But the Cook County Forest Preserve District had that part of the county so heavily in debt with forest preserve bonds, they could not afford to buy out the bonds.