On Wednesday, the commissioners of Crook County, Oregon, formally asked the Oregon Legislature to begin discussions on transferring the eastern part of the state to Idaho. County commissioners Seth Crawford, Susan Harmreck and Brian Barney made the request in a letter to state Sen. Lynn Findley and Rep. Vicki Breeze Iverson.
Greater Idaho Movement
The move is part of the Greater Idaho movement, a movement of Oregon residents east of the Cascade Mountains who are frustrated with left-wing rule in the state. So far, 13 Republican-leaning counties have voted to move to Idaho, where they believe their rural sensibilities will be better served.
The letter stated that in May, on the ballot, “Crook County;
“Idahoans support efforts to move Idaho's state line to include Crook County,” the commissioners wrote in the bill, which passed with 53.4 percent approval.
Therefore, in accordance with the will of our people, the Crook County Commissioners want to assure you that they encourage continued discussions with our neighbors in Idaho regarding the possibility of moving the Oregon-Idaho state line westward so that all or part of the territory of Crook County, Oregon, would become part of the State of Idaho.
At this time, the state negotiations are non-binding and require approval from Oregon, Idaho and the federal government. Crook County is the eighth of 13 counties that have approved the measure to formally request the state take action.
“We commend the commissioners for listening to their constituents and advocating for them by calling on state leaders to act,” said Matt McCaw, executive director of Greater Idaho.
This is the way the system is supposed to work. The people of Eastern Oregon have done all they could to express their preferences at the ballot box. Now we need the people who represent us to bring this debate to the Legislature.
Oregon Governor's Response
In July, Greater Idaho leaders contacted Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, asking to meet with her to discuss the movement. In a letter to the governor, McCaw, the organization's president Mike McCarter and vice president Sandy Gilson wrote:
As the Greater Idaho Movement leadership team, we have been helping voters in these 13 counties make their voices heard, but we believe the people have been heard and it is time for elected leaders across the state to listen to them and work to achieve their goals, which is why we would like to formally invite you to meet with us to discuss how we can work together to achieve win-win solutions that help Oregonians on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.
Kotek has been largely silent on Greater Idaho, but his office released a statement saying, “We believe Oregon should come together and support one another, and we recognize that when people feel frustrated that their voices are not being heard and consider joining other states, it is a wake-up call for the entire state.”
But movement leaders reminded that the governor campaigned on the policy of listening to his constituents.
Throughout your campaign and your One Oregon Listening Tour, you repeatedly stated that you want to listen to your community and hear your constituents' concerns. As the leader of the most successful county voter campaign in Eastern Oregon history, we stand ready to give you that opportunity.
Idaho appears open to accommodating disgruntled Oregon counties: In early 2023, the state Legislature passed a nonbinding petition calling for the opening of formal talks to redraw the boundaries.
While moving Oregon's eastern border into Idaho is unlikely to happen, it's inspiring to see disgruntled people using the democratic process to try to change their government. Kotek would be well advised to talk to these people, because it's clear they're not going away.
