[THEEPOCHTIMES] Several counties in Oregon on May 18 voted to consider joining the state of Idaho, which is part of a long-shot movement to break away from the state that has long been dominated by politicians in Portland.Voters in Malheur, Sherman, Grant, Baker, and Lake counties approved various measures that require county officials to take steps to look into moving the Idaho border west to incorporate the counties.
The grassroots group Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho is aiming to have the eastern counties—which are mostly rural—join Idaho because they believe they would be better off with Idaho’s more conservative politicianship.
"This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon," lead petitioner Mike McCarter said in a statement to local media outlets on May 18. "If Oregon really believes in liberal values such as self-determination, the Legislature won’t hold our counties captive against our will. If we’re allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well."
McCarter told the Oregonian last year that the bid to join Idaho is more of a "lifestyle/values judgment" that separates rural and urban residents.
Oregon’s Jefferson and Union counties already approved measures last year to promote a move to Idaho. Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho petitioners also want to absorb some counties in Northern Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,, which are also mostly rural.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, told Fox News last year that some Oregonians are "looking at Idaho fondly because of our regulatory atmosphere" and "our values."