West Virginia Senator Chris Rose introduced a resolution Thursday inviting 27 Virginia counties and three Maryland counties to join the Mountain State following a Democratic sweep in Virginia’s recent elections.
The resolution began with just a few border counties but expanded after Virginians contacted Rose asking for their counties to be included. Rose, a fourth-generation coal miner from Southwest Virginia, said other Virginia miners he met asked him to champion the proposal.
“I had a lot of people reach out to me and say, will you please champion this and give us the opportunity to finish having this conversation,” Rose told WCYB News. “We want our voices to be heard, we want our vote in elections to matter.”
The resolution specifically names Virginia counties including Augusta, Bath, Bland, Buchanan, Clarke, Craig, Dickenson, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Highland, Lee, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Warren, Wise, and Wythe. The three Maryland counties are Allegany, Garrett, and Washington.
For the counties to actually join West Virginia, legislation would need approval in each respective state and then by Congress. Rose acknowledged the legal hurdles but said West Virginia would welcome the counties if the process succeeded.
“But if that would happen, West Virginia would be more than happy, willing and able to take the counties in and provide the freedom and representation they so much deserve,” Rose said.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine dismissed the proposal when asked about it. “Well, I wasn’t aware of it and it’s not going to happen,” Kaine said. “So those are my thoughts.”
Rose’s resolution reflects a broader pattern of county-level dissatisfaction with state governance that has emerged across America. Similar movements have gained momentum as rural communities feel increasingly disconnected from urban-dominated state politics.
The West Virginia invitation follows the historical precedent of the state’s own formation during the Civil War, when western Virginia counties broke away to form a separate state. However, modern county secession movements face significant political and legal obstacles from state governments reluctant to lose population and tax base.
According to Rose’s resolution, the invited areas share “geographic, economic, cultural, and historical connections with West Virginia, including a strong Appalachian heritage, rural lifestyles, and a focus on individual liberties.”
Rose emphasized this isn’t a joke and hopes Virginia representatives will take seriously the frustration of their constituents. “I would definitely take the frustration of your constituents seriously, because they feel like they are not being heard in their states,” he said.
Local reactions were mixed, with some Virginians supporting the idea or even suggesting creating a new state, while others expressed loyalty to Virginia. The proposal highlights the growing divide between rural and urban political priorities that has fueled secession movements nationwide.
While county-level boundary changes demonstrate grassroots political dissatisfaction, legal experts note that true self-determination ultimately requires sovereign state action rather than administrative county realignments subject to federal approval.
The resolution will likely face significant opposition from Virginia and Maryland officials who would lose territory, population, and revenue. Congressional approval would represent an additional hurdle, as federal lawmakers have historically been reluctant to redraw state boundaries.
Rose’s proposal signals the type of political fragmentation that could accelerate if federal and state governments continue failing to address the concerns of rural communities seeking meaningful representation and self-governance.
