Mon County senator wants some VA, MD counties to join West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — A West Virginia state senator from Monongalia County has put forth a proposal that encourages several bordering counties in Virginia and Maryland to secede from their states and join West Virginia.

In the proposal posted to Facebook Wednesday, Senator Chris Rose (R-Monongalia) introduced a resolution that invites 30 total counties—three from Maryland and 27 from Virginia—to secede from their respective states and join West Virginia. Those counties are as follows:

• Allegany, Md.
• Garrett, Md.
• Washington, Md.
• Alleghany, Va.
• Augusta, Va.
• Bath, Va.
• Bland, Va.
• Buchanan, Va.
• Carroll, Va.
• Clarke, Va.
• Craig, Va.
• Dickenson, Va.
• Frederick, Va.
• Giles, Va.
• Grayson, Va.
• Highland, Va.
• Lee, Va.
• Page, Va.
• Patrick, Va.
• Rappahannock, Va.
• Rockingham, Va.
• Russell, Va.
• Scott, Va.
• Shenandoah, Va.
• Smyth, Va.
• Tazewell, Va.
• Warren, Va.
• Washington, Va.
• Wise, Va.
• Wythe, Va.

The proposal cited the counties’ “geographic, economic, cultural, and historical connections with West Virginia, including a strong Appalachian heritage, rural lifestyles, and a focus on individual liberties,” as the reason for the invitation. Sen. Rose added in his post that such a move would “address residents’ concerns over policies in their current states that may not align with local priorities.”

Movements to redraw state lines are not entirely unheard of. In 2021, Gov. Jim Justice addressed a proposal by some legislators in western Maryland, who sought secession for West Virginia. The measure never passed in the Old Line State, but the idea clearly persists four years later.

The move by Sen. Rose comes just a day after Virginia held its statewide election that chose Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger as its next governor, flipping the seat and joining other areas like New Jersey and New York City, which also elected democrats to their respective executive positions this week.

Senator Rose is also not alone in encouraging Virginians to leave their own state amid this week’s election. Shortly after the race was called Tuesday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey commented on the results, saying, “It’s about to get awful blue in the commonwealth of Virginia. Don’t wait for the high taxes to heavy regulations to come, now is your chance to escape to wild and wonderful West Virginia.”

Senator Rose said that if such a move were to pass, it would require approval from the legislatures of all three states involved, as well as Congress. He added that copies of the proposal have been sent to leaders in both states and that it “encourages discussions, referenda, and collaboration among residents, local governments, and state leaders.”