The Greater Idaho movement is an 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] It is primarily led by conservative dissatisfaction with the liberal lean of a small but more heavily populated region of Oregon, driven by the Portland area and other cities in the Willamette Valley; proponents argue that the rural eastern counties have more in common with Idaho, and aren't adequately represented in Oregon's state politics.
For this change to be accomplished legally, under current laws it would require approval by local voters via ballot measures, followed by 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]
- ^ "Phase 2 Greater Idaho maps - the Greater Idaho movement". Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Cureton, Emily (February 24, 2020). "Some Oregonians Want To Leave And Take Part Of The State To Idaho With Them". NPR. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Perry, Douglas (February 17, 2020). "Ballot-initiative effort to move eastern Oregon counties to Idaho gains momentum; leader calls it 'peaceful revolution'". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Merzbach, Hanna (November 9, 2020). "Movement to form 'Greater Idaho' gains steam as two rural Oregon counties vote to consider joining Idaho". KGW8 News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Sahakian, Teny (November 18, 2020). "Rural Oregon counties vote to discuss seceding from state to join 'Greater Idaho'". Fox News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Idaho lawmakers hear pitch to absorb three-fourths of Oregon". The Oregonian. Associated Press. April 12, 2021. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ Sierra, Antonio (November 9, 2022). "Greater Idaho ballot measures pass in two more Oregon counties". OPB. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Stites, Sam (May 24, 2022). "Greater Idaho movement scales back plan for Oregon annexation". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
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.