Greater Idaho movement explained

The Greater Idaho movement is a conservative effort in the United States for counties east of the Oregon Cascades,[1] to secede from the state of Oregon and join Idaho.[2] [3] [4] If approved locally by voters via ballot measures, it would need approval from the state legislatures of both Oregon and Idaho, as well as the federal Congress.[5] [6]

As of July 2024, thirteen counties in Oregon had approved ballot measures in favor of Greater Idaho: Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler.[7] [8]

Background and rationale

Eastern Oregon is relatively rural and conservative, compared to the more heavily populated and politically liberal western Oregon. Those same western urban areas have a majority in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Idaho is largely conservative compared to Oregon, motivating some conservatives in eastern Oregon to advocate for relocating the border.[9] Oregon governor Tina Kotek acknowledged the movement in 2023 saying, "I think there are a lot of Oregonians who are frustrated and don’t feel heard. That, I think, is what the movement is about."[10]

Per Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution:

A number of state laws differ dramatically between Oregon and Idaho.[11] Abortion access is starkly different, with Idaho banning nearly all abortions while Oregon imposes no legal restrictions. Tax policy is different, as Idaho charges a 6% sales tax, while Oregon does not impose a state sales tax. Minimum wage differs between the two states, too. Drug laws differ, as like most of the West, Oregon has legalized recreational marijuana, while Idaho still criminalizes possession. The Idaho state legislature opposes the rise of marijuana dispensaries in eastern Oregon serving customers from the Boise metro area; by moving the border further west, it would increase the travel time to the nearest dispensaries.

Timeline

In 2020, the group called "Move Oregon's Border for a Greater Idaho" proposed breaking off most of Oregon's area and some of Northern California and join it with Idaho. In 2021, five counties in eastern Oregon voted to "require county officials to take steps to promote" adding the counties to Idaho.[12] As of May 2024, thirteen counties in Oregon had approved ballot measures in favor of Greater Idaho: Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler.[13] [14]

In May 2022, voters in Douglas and Josephine counties rejected proposals to join, causing the proponents to scale back the scope of the proposal and issue a "less ambitious" map that excludes Southern Oregon west of Klamath County. The reduced scope includes only Oregon’s eastern territory save for small portions of Deschutes and Wasco counties. The latest map only covers about one third of the originally targeted areas. The majority of the remaining inhabitants live in Umatilla County, which is home to Hermiston and Pendleton, the two largest cities in the region.

In February 2023, the House State Affairs committee of the Idaho House of Representatives approved a resolution to authorize the legislature to discuss moving the state border with Oregon lawmakers.[15] This was subsequently passed by the Idaho House of Representatives.[16] A similar bill was introduced in the Oregon State Senate; Senate President Rob Wagner stated that it was unlikely that the bill would move forward in the 2023 session.[17] In May 2023, Wallowa County approved a ballot measure in favor of Greater Idaho by just seven votes.[18] [19]

As of February 2024, Gilliam County and Umatilla County have yet to entertain the concept on the ballot.[20]

On May 21, 2024, Crook County voted in favor of Measure 7-86 advising the Crook County Court that voters supported continued negotiations regarding relocating the Oregon-Idaho border to include Crook County within the Idaho border.[21] [22] This makes it the 13th county in Oregon that has passed a similar ballot measure resulting in the majority of Counties in the proposed Greater Idaho map having voted in favor. That same election cycle, Dennis Linthicum, the Oregon state senator who introduced the 2023 bill in the Oregon Legislature, became the Republican nominee for Oregon Secretary of State.

Date! scope="col" rowspan="2"
CountySupportOpposeBallot measure
%%
Douglas26,98143.32%35,29756.68%10-180[23]
Jefferson5,75750.90%5,55349.10%16-96[24]
Union7,43552.40%6,75347.60%31-101[25]
Wallowa2,47849.59%2,51950.41%32-003[26]
Baker3,34657.49%2,47442.51%1-104[27]
Grant1,47162.15%89637.85%12-77[28]
Lake1,51074.64%51325.36%19-35[29]
Malheur3,05954.13%2,59245.87%23-64[30]
Sherman43062.32%26037.68%28-46[31]
Harney1,58363.22%92136.78%13-18[32]
Douglas16,79147.37%18,65952.63%10-185[33]
Josephine13,61948.70%14,34451.30%17-106[34]
Klamath9,64957.00%7,27843.00%18-121[35]
Morrow2,38660.7%1,54639.3%25-88[36]
Wheeler47258.56%33441.44%35-29[37]
Wallowa1,75250.10%1,74549.90%32-007
Crook5,08653.44%4,43246.56%7-86[38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phase 2 Greater Idaho maps - the Greater Idaho movement . 2023-12-18 . en-US . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218181246/https://www.greateridaho.org/phase-2-greater-idaho-maps/ . live .
  2. News: Cureton . Emily . February 24, 2020 . Some Oregonians Want To Leave And Take Part Of The State To Idaho With Them . . Washington, D.C. . live . February 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225222830/https://www.npr.org/2020/02/24/808916891/some-oregonians-want-to-leave-and-take-part-of-the-state-to-idaho-with-them . February 25, 2020.
  3. News: Perry . Douglas . February 17, 2020 . Ballot-initiative effort to move eastern Oregon counties to Idaho gains momentum; leader calls it 'peaceful revolution' . . Portland, Oregon . live . February 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200226174212/https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/02/ballot-initiative-effort-to-move-eastern-oregon-counties-to-idaho-gains-momentum-leader-calls-it-peaceful-revolution.html . February 26, 2020.
  4. Web site: Merzbach . Hanna . November 9, 2020 . Movement to form 'Greater Idaho' gains steam as two rural Oregon counties vote to consider joining Idaho . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201110085931/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/two-rural-oregon-counties-vote-to-consider-joining-idaho-in-move-oregons-border-movement/283-8208e56d-404e-4d1e-bdaf-d91818563625 . November 10, 2020 . November 11, 2020 . KGW8 News.
  5. Web site: Sahakian . Teny . 2020-11-18 . Rural Oregon counties vote to discuss seceding from state to join 'Greater Idaho' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119135953/https://www.foxnews.com/media/rural-oregon-vote-secede-greater-idaho . November 19, 2020 . 2020-11-19 . Fox News . en-US.
  6. Web site: April 12, 2021 . Idaho lawmakers hear pitch to absorb three-fourths of Oregon . 12 April 2021 . . . 8 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308185529/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/04/idaho-lawmakers-hear-pitch-to-absorb-three-fourths-of-oregon.html . live .
  7. News: Sierra . Antonio . Greater Idaho ballot measures pass in two more Oregon counties . 8 March 2023 . . 9 November 2022 . 18 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218235648/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/11/09/greater-idaho-ballot-measures-pass-two-more-oregon-counties/ . live .
  8. Web site: Stites . Sam . 2022-05-24 . Greater Idaho movement scales back plan for Oregon annexation . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403200555/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/23/greater-idaho-movement-scales-back-plan-for-oregon-annexation/ . 2023-04-03 . 2024-04-15 . Oregon Public Broadcasting . The May 17 losses caused leaders to issue the 'less ambitious' map as part of what they called 'phase 1' of their project. The reduced scope includes only 15 counties representing roughly 386,000 Oregonians, a little more than a third of the original map's 900,000 in population. According to backers, the area outlines 64% of Oregon's landmass but just 9% of its population..
  9. News: State line pot shops latest flashpoint in Idaho-Oregon border debate . April 1, 2023 . Kirk Siegler . . April 28, 2023 . April 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428032009/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/01/1167461331/state-line-pot-shops-latest-flashpoint-in-idaho-oregon-border-debate . live .
  10. Web site: Ferrara . John Ross . 2023-02-28 . Proposed 'Greater Idaho' movement would consume 3 of Oregon's 7 Wonders . 2023-05-22 . KOIN.com . en-US . 2023-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522065041/https://www.koin.com/news/proposed-greater-idaho-movement-would-consume-3-of-oregons-so-called-7-wonders/ . live .
  11. Web site: Clark Corbin . Idaho Capital Sun . 2023-02-16 . Greater Idaho resolution passes Idaho House; calls for talks with Oregon over moving border . 2023-05-22 . The Oregonian . en . 2023-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324234116/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/02/greater-idaho-resolution-passes-idaho-house-calls-for-talks-with-oregon-over-moving-border.html . live .
  12. Web site: Perry. Douglas. 2021-05-19. More Oregon counties vote to consider joining Idaho, part of rural effort to 'gain political refuge from blue states'. 2021-05-20. The Oregonian. en. 2023-03-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20230331134304/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/05/more-oregon-counties-vote-to-move-into-idaho-part-of-rural-effort-to-to-gain-political-refuge-from-blue-states.html. live.
  13. News: Sierra . Antonio . Greater Idaho ballot measures pass in two more Oregon counties . 8 March 2023 . . 9 November 2022 . 18 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218235648/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/11/09/greater-idaho-ballot-measures-pass-two-more-oregon-counties/ . live .
  14. Web site: Stites . Sam . 2022-05-24 . Greater Idaho movement scales back plan for Oregon annexation . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403200555/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/23/greater-idaho-movement-scales-back-plan-for-oregon-annexation/ . 2023-04-03 . 2024-04-15 . Oregon Public Broadcasting . The May 17 losses caused leaders to issue the 'less ambitious' map as part of what they called 'phase 1' of their project. The reduced scope includes only 15 counties representing roughly 386,000 Oregonians, a little more than a third of the original map's 900,000 in population. According to backers, the area outlines 64% of Oregon's landmass but just 9% of its population..
  15. Web site: Greater Idaho push moves to House floor . Boise State Public Radio . Dawson . James . 2023-02-13 . 2023-02-14 . 2023-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213220646/https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2023-02-13/greater-idaho-push-moves-to-house-floor . live .
  16. News: Corbin . Clark . Idaho House passes nonbinding measure calling for formal 'Greater Idaho' talks . 8 March 2023 . . 15 February 2023 . 8 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308193143/https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/idaho-house-passes-nonbinding-measure-calling-for-formal-greater-idaho-talks/ . live .
  17. Web site: Plante . Aimee . 2023-02-15 . Idaho passes bill to discuss Greater Idaho border relocation . 2023-05-22 . KOIN.com . en-US . 2023-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522065044/https://www.koin.com/news/politics/idaho-passes-bill-to-discuss-greater-idaho-border-relocation/ . live .
  18. Web site: Moreno . Lisa . 2023-05-19 . 7 votes divide Wallowa County on Greater Idaho measure . 2023-05-22 . The Oregonian . en . 2023-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521235942/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2023/05/7-votes-divide-wallowa-county-on-greater-idaho-measure.html . live .
  19. Web site: Kornick . Lindsay The . 2023-06-18 . Wallowa County became the 12th Oregon county to join the "Greater Idaho" movement when special election results on the measure were finalized Tuesday . 2023-06-08 . Foxnew.com . en . 2023-06-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608091717/https://www.foxnews.com/media/rural-oregon-movement-join-greater-idaho-gains-traction-vote-12th-county . live .
  20. Web site: Vasilogambros . Matt . 2023-09-06 . An eastern Oregon effort to join Idaho reflects the growing American divide . 2023-09-18 . Washington State Standard . en-US . 2023-10-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001211923/https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/09/06/an-eastern-oregon-effort-to-join-idaho-reflects-the-growing-american-divide/ . live .
  21. Web site: Crook County voters approving Greater Idaho measure. Central Oregon Daily News. Staff. May 21, 2024. Central Oregon Daily. May 22, 2024. May 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175121/https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/prineville/greater-idaho-movement-crook-county-results/article_62579a10-17a7-11ef-a024-576cf18cface.html. live.
  22. Web site: Crook County, Oregon, Measure 7-86, Greater Idaho Measure (May 2024). Ballotpedia. May 22, 2024. May 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175120/https://ballotpedia.org/Crook_County,_Oregon,_Measure_7-86,_Greater_Idaho_Measure_(May_2024). live.
  23. Web site: November 20, 2020 . Official Final Results Summary: Douglas County General Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175121/https://douglascountyor.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5248/November-03-2020-Official-Final-Results . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Douglas County Oregon.
  24. Web site: November 19, 2020 . State of Oregon Abstract of Votes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523144047/https://www.jeffco.net/media/27231 . May 23, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Jefferson County, Oregon.
  25. Web site: February 14, 2024 . Union County Board of Commissioners: Special Meeting Minutes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603155111/https://unioncountyor.gov/agmin/Meetings/Minutes/2024/Special-Board-Meeting-02142024m.pdf . June 3, 2024 . June 3, 2024 . Union County, Oregon.
  26. Web site: November 3, 2020 . Wallowa County, Oregon: General Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175122/https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/7/7b/Wallowa_County_WA_2020_Election_Results.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Ballotpedia.
  27. Web site: June 3, 2021 . Custom Table Report: Baker County Special District Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175122/https://www1.bakercounty.org/election-docs.nsf/433DB14D5948C02E882586ED0059F98B/$FILE/20210518-election-o.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Baker County, Oregon.
  28. Web site: April 4, 2023 . Election Results - Abstract of Votes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523153645/https://grantcountyoregon.net/DocumentCenter/View/1547/Election-Results-052021 . May 23, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Grant County, Oregon.
  29. Web site: May 20, 2021 . Lake County, Oregon: Special District Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175122/https://cms3.revize.com/revize/lakecounty/docs/5-18-2021%20Election%20Results%20updated.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Revize.
  30. Web site: June 2, 2021 . Special District Election Results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175124/https://www.malheurco.org/wp-content/uploads/Departments/CountyClerk/Election%20Results/Group-4_Final.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Malheur County, Oregon.
  31. Web site: June 2, 2021 . Sherman County Nilay 2021 Special District Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308014353/https://storage.googleapis.com/proudcity/shermancountyor/uploads/2021/05/5-18-2021-Detail-Results.pdf . March 8, 2022 . May 23, 2024 . Sherman County, Oregon.
  32. Web site: November 17, 2021 . Official Abstract of Votes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175122/https://harneycountyor.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Official-Abstract-of-Votes-Nov-2021-Special-Election.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Harney County, Oregon.
  33. Web site: June 8, 2022 . Official Final Results: Douglas County, May17, 2022 Primary Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175121/https://douglascountyor.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21702/May-17-2022-Official-Final-Results-Summary-Certified-PDF . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Douglas County, Oregon.
  34. Web site: June 10, 2022 . Statement of Votes Cast: May 17, 2022, Primary Election: Josephine County, Oregon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175121/https://cms9files.revize.com/josephinecountyor/Certified%20Results5-17-22-ALL.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Revize.
  35. Web site: June 10, 2022 . Statement of Votes Cast by Geography: Klamath, Primary, May 17, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523191426/https://www.klamathcounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/32676/Summary-Report-County-Races-Certified-Results-pdf . May 23, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Klamath County, Oregon.
  36. Web site: December 2, 2022 . Morrow County November 2022 General Election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175122/https://www.co.morrow.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk/page/16511/final_totals_november_8_2022.pdf . May 22, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . Morrow County, Oregon.
  37. Web site: December 1, 2022 . Wheeler County 2022 General Election . live . May 23, 2024 . Box . May 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240522175121/https://app.box.com/s/n1u08w73f80jvj99gwr3y2c8s1u5q3xs/file/1080279269463 .
  38. Web site: Staff . Central Oregon Daily News . 2024-05-21 . Crook County voters approving Greater Idaho measure . 2024-05-23 . Central Oregon Daily . en.

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