Rural areas in the US want separation from Democratic cities

Local politicians and organizations paired many proposals with the 2024 elections. One of those could have a ripple effect on the US political map: a secession referendum.

The idea of seeking separation won an overwhelming majority in seven Illinois counties, local media reports. The movement to separate rural areas from Chicago has grown recently.

According to WCIA, the seven counties, including suburban and more populated Madison County, joined at least 21 other areas that voted in favor in 2020 and 2022. They have elected a governor (pictured).

The Wall Street Journal spoke with the leader of New Illinois, which has been pushing a separation for years. They said they see the new administration as more friendly to their aspirations.

The movement claims that liberal, highly populated areas like cities are pushing policies that don't align with the conservative values of rural areas or their priorities.

The WSJ said many small-town business owners in rural counties feel irritated by the blue state's policies and find it hard to compete with nearby Indiana businesses with much lower taxes.

Still, money is not the only reason behind the divorce plea. Issues like gun rights and fewer regulations also inspire the separation desire to make a new state the size of Indiana, they said.

Local authorities see the movement as a push to expel Chicago and Cook County, the city's suburban area, from the state. They see the proposal as far-fetched.

However, the Illinois movement is far from alone. According to The Washington Times, others in California, Oregon, or Virginia are looking for the same.

The WSJ said the movement is gaining momentum in states where vast rural conservative areas are dominated by more populated but smaller deep blue cities.

California is the perfect example. Like Illinois, the movement pushed for forming a new state that would have to be accepted by the Union.

Experts quoted by the WSJ and the Washington Times see that move as very unlikely. The Constitution also says that it should be approved by state legislatures.

However, the leader told the WSJ that West Virginia's example gives hope to the New Illinois movement. The new state separated from Virginia unilaterally with the help of Congress.

Despite the movement's perception of the new administration being more friendly, the obstacles appear too complex. That is why other separation movements took a different approach.

The rural counties in east Oregon are proposing a change in state limits to join conservative Idaho.

The Idaho governor supports their efforts to negotiate new limits with Oregon legislators, given that moving state lines is easier to approve than creating new states.

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