Rural Oregonians are encouraging President-elect Donald Trump to help resolve a border dilemma that may not be on his radar, this one involving the state line between Idaho and Oregon.
Leaders of the Greater Idaho movement have asked Mr. Trump to join talks between the two states on moving their shared border eastward, which would add the farm-rich but population-poor Eastern Oregon counties to Idaho.
The proposal stands at a stalemate. The Idaho Legislature has agreed to discuss the issue, while Oregon’s hasn’t.
“Unlike typical politicians, you have a unique ability as a practical problem-solver to get things done, and your support can bring a peaceful resolution to Oregon’s long-standing east-west divide,” said the Wednesday letter to Mr. Trump.
“Helping achieve this would only cement your legacy as a peacemaker and transformational president,” said the letter. “We would like to formally invite your administration to meet with us to discuss how to make this historic change a reality for the people of Oregon and Idaho.”
Twenty-seven of Oregon’s 36 counties voted for Mr. Trump in the Nov. 5 election, but the state swung for Vice President Kamala Harris by 56% to 41% because the remaining nine mostly northwest counties represent the state’s population centers.
“It’s become clear to the people of eastern Oregon that our own state government is not going to listen to us and enact what we’ve voted for, which is moving the border,” said Citizens for Greater Idaho Executive Director Matt McCaw in a statement. “But we believe that President Trump, whom the people here overwhelmingly voted for, can help us achieve the self-determination we have a right to by bringing attention and support to our cause.”
Since 2020, 13 Eastern Oregon counties have passed ballot measures in favor of joining Idaho, an effort rooted in frustration over the lack of rural representation in Oregon’s Legislative Assembly.
That body is controlled by Democratic representatives from northwestern Oregon, home of Portland, a leftist enclave and the state’s largest city.
Eastern Oregon has over 60% of the state’s landmass but only 9% of the population, meaning that more rural counties are “outvoted on every issue the progressives put forth, leaving us disenfranchised,” the letter said.
Moving the state line would require the approval of both state legislatures and Congress, a tall order, given that most states would rather not give up land, resources and population.
Mike McCarter, Greater Idaho president, said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, hasn’t responded to the group’s July 11 request for a meeting to “discuss how we can all work together to achieve win-win solutions that help Oregonians on both sides of the Cascades.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, has expressed support for the concept, while the Idaho Legislature in 2023 invited Oregon to begin border talks.
“For the last four years, we’ve been going directly to the people to hear what they want,” said Mr. McCarter. “They’ve made clear they want to start border discussions. We’ve also reached out to the Oregon Legislature and Gov. Kotek but gotten no response.”
He added, “Oregon state government hasn’t been willing to listen to eastern Oregonians, but we believe the president will.”
Mr. Trump will take office on Jan. 20, making him the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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