The GOP-voting Eastern Oregon district is expected to be the 12th to vote to leave the Democratic state and become part of conservative Idaho — despite local lawmakers refusing to let them go
- Eleven counties in eastern Oregon have so far voted to join Idaho
- Wallowa County is poised to be the last to take the action, and four more remain in the Greater Idaho movement plan
- The effort is aimed at pushing state lines to allow Republican-leaning counties in Oregon to become part of western Idaho
- However, in order to actually change the state boundaries, lawmakers in Oregon, Idaho and the US Congress would have to agree
A county in eastern Oregon has petitioned to be the 12th to vote to leave the Democratic state and become part of conservative Idaho.
Wallowa County residents could see the election presented to them next May as part of the Greater Idaho movement, which is trying to move Republican-leaning counties in Oregon to the neighboring state.
Eleven counties in eastern Oregon have voted in favor so far, and four other counties, including Wallowa, are included in the proposal to move the state lines.
Regardless of how residents vote, Legislatures in Oregon, Idaho and the US Congress would have to give the approval of Legislators in Oregon, Idaho and the US Congress to actually change state boundaries.
Eleven counties in eastern Oregon have so far voted to join Idaho. Wallowa County will be the last to take action, leaving four others in the Greater Idaho plan
In a statement on Wallowa’s petition, Greater Idaho spokesman Matt McCaw said many residents were in favor of the split, citing two of the group’s ballots last month that won the measure by 51 percent.
“That means Eastern Oregon was one percentage point away from vetoing,” McCaw said. “Western Oregon would be free from our interference if they stopped holding eastern Oregon captive and our communities joined Idaho.”
The push to split Oregon came amid a hard-fought gubernatorial race as it appeared the state was poised to elect its first Republican executive branch in 40 years.
However, Republican candidate Christine Drazan, the GOP leader in the House of Representatives, failed in her efforts against Democrat Tina Kotek.
Kotek, the state’s first openly gay woman to serve as speaker, will succeed outgoing Gov. Kate Brown, who dismissed the Greater Idaho Movement and previous GOP attempts to remove her from office.
The move to divide the state through political leanings was emphasized after a close governor’s 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 when he wanted to move 15 counties to Idaho
Greater Idaho Movement leader Mike McCarter said the close election shows the two sides of Oregon are in each other’s way.
“If Western Oregon doesn’t like the risk of being forced to accept the gubernatorial nominee it voted against, then it should just stop trapping our counties in this unhappy marriage,” McCarter said.
“Actually, it’s not even as dramatic as a divorce because we don’t break up a family. Moving a state line is similar to redistributing a utility,” he added.
McCaw said it was becoming increasingly clear that eastern and western Oregon were too different places and that the dichotomy was also affecting the left’s ability to pass progressive legislation.
“If Oregon had let Harney County go when it voted for our measure, a Harney County judge would not have prevented Oregon’s gun control initiative from enacting statewide,” McCaw said. ‘Now his restraining order could last for a few years while he decides the case.
“Harney County is ranch country, and Portland isn’t. It makes no sense for these two cultures to dictate politics to each other.’
Idaho Gov. Brad Little said it was unlikely the movement could succeed
While Idaho Gov. Brad Little said he sympathized with the greater Idaho cause, he conceded it was likely going nowhere.
“There’s still a lot that needs to happen before moving the border is within the realm of possibility,” Little said.
Though Republicans are poised to take over Congress in 2023, the possibility of permanently changing the state lines would also need approval from Oregano lawmakers, who have previously opposed the measure.