Staff Reports
The Greater Idaho Movement is making waves in the world of conservative activism, and it’s doing so with a bold request that carries significant implications. In an open letter directed to President-elect Donald Trump, this group, which champions the cause of 13 conservative counties in Oregon, is clamoring for a meeting to discuss their desire to secede from the liberal quicksand of Oregon and join the far more hospitable climes of Idaho.
The letter isn’t shy about expressing its intentions, asserting that the people of these counties overwhelmingly voted for Trump and are looking for his support to pave the way for their bid to join Idaho. With a growing disenchantment toward leaders in Oregon who seem deaf to their desires — particularly post-pandemic — it seems that these communities are fed up and ready to cast off the liberal shackles that have been constricting them. One could say they’ve finally had enough of the Portland-centric policies that have led them to contemplate moving the state line a little further east.
Greater Idaho seeks Trump's support to move state border https://t.co/uRfwBwN4lw
— KTVB.COM (@KTVB) December 9, 2024
The sentiment surrounding the Greater Idaho Movement is also fueled by historical precedent. Redrawing state lines is not an uncharted territory. There have been instances, like West Virginia’s split from Virginia, where ideological and practical lines have been drawn, creating new political entities. If the new Congress and administration can lend a hand, these counties might just find themselves waving goodbye to the progressive debates in Salem and welcoming the more traditional values associated with Idaho. Just picture it: the Oregon Trail rerouting to Idaho!
Of course, not all secessionist movements are created equal. Many across the U.S. are shouting for their exits from their respective blue states, but there’s a practical difference here. The reaction from the Oregon state government has been less than sympathetic — summarily dismissing any thoughts of even discussing secession, which is hardly surprising given their Democratic stronghold. With Portland holding 85 percent of the state’s population, it’s a classic case of the urban elite imposing their will on the rural folk who simply want to live life without the constraints of far-left policies on taxes, gun control, and everything in between.
Those advocating for Greater Idaho aren’t just daydreamers; they’re armed with statistics, and those stats are all pointing in their favor. Typically, a whopping 70 percent of votes in these counties have gone to Trump, echoing Idaho’s voting patterns. As these rural, sparsely populated areas continue to cling to traditional American values rooted in ranching and blue-collar work, the push for severance grows stronger by the day.
The tension is bubbling beneath the surface, not just from differing values between the east and the west of Oregon, but from the imposition of Portland’s ideology on those who, quite frankly, want nothing to do with it. As the rift between urban and rural America continues to widen, don’t be surprised if the Greater Idaho Movement isn’t just a flash in the pan but the beginning of a larger call for autonomy among disillusioned conservatives fed up with the mandates of their metropolitan overlords.
