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So far 12 Oregon counties have voted to secede from liberal western Oregon and instead become a part of Idaho
(NewsNation) — Call it a cultural gap, partisan divide or the classic red versus blue, but a growing number of Oregonians from the eastern and central part of the state are looking for redder pastures in Idaho.
Two counties in Oregon voted to secede from their state and join Idaho this week, in a movement called “Greater Idaho.”
“It sends a message to the Oregon legislature that you have a problem in rural Oregon,” Mike McCarter, President, of Citizens for Greater Idaho said during an appearance Friday night on NewsNation’s “Banfield.” “And if you don’t want to deal with the problem, then let us go. We feel closer to those folks that are over in Idaho, and we’re willing. We want to join with them.”
“We feel there is a large gap between the rural and urban counties in Oregon, it’s getting broader all the time. This is not a new idea, it’s been talked about for a long time, where people in eastern Oregon have felt closer to the people in Idaho than they have to the people in northwest Oregon,” McCarter said five months ago while speaking on NewsNation’s affiliate KOIN five months ago,
Many feel that Idaho is a gem, and it’s the fastest growing state in the U.S. The answer as to why these Oregonians want to move to Idaho without actually moving to Idaho is mostly a financial one: lower taxes, a cheaper cost of living, similar politics and a more conservative lifestyle.
Changing the border would need the backing of both state legislatures and Congress. So far, Idaho’s governor hasn’t backed or rejected the idea:
“They’re looking at Idaho fondly because of our strong economy, regulatory atmosphere and our values. There’s a lot that needs to happen before moving the border is within the realm of possibility,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) said.
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