• Diverging perspectives on crime and social policies create a rift between urban and rural populations.
• The secession proposal aims to move Oregon’s eastern boundary 200 miles to the west.
• Crook County voters approved the measure with 53% in favor.

Residents of Crook County, Oregon, voted on Tuesday to pass the “Greater Idaho” measure, which mandates the county to pursue separation from Oregon and join Idaho.

The measure received 53% of the vote, marking Crook County as the 13th eastern Oregon county to endorse the initiative. “Eastern Oregon voters have made their stance clear on advancing border discussions. With this latest decision from Crook County, there’s no justification for the Legislature and Governor to disregard the will of the people,” stated Matt McCaw, Executive Director of Greater Idaho.

Conservative eastern Oregonians have expressed a strong desire to split from their more liberal western counterparts, seeking to become part of Idaho. The divergence in opinions on crime and social policies has widened the gap between urban centers and rural communities, fueling the secession movement.

“The Oregon/Idaho boundary, drawn 163 years ago, is outdated. Its current placement doesn’t reflect the cultural divide in Oregon,” the movement’s website states.