West Virginia state Senator Chris Rose, a Republican, introduced a proposal on Thursday aimed at enticing 30 counties from Virginia and Maryland to become part of his state.

In an announcement shared on his Facebook page, Rose extended an invitation to 27 Virginia counties and three from Maryland to consider merging with West Virginia, emphasizing the potential benefits of bolstering regional unity and embracing common Appalachian values.

The statement further highlighted potential concerns among residents in these counties regarding state policies that might not reflect their local interests, specifically mentioning issues such as Second Amendment rights, economic growth, and rural representation.

This development comes in the wake of Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, where she will take over from Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Coinciding with this, Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, initiated a redistricting advisory commission, emphasizing the importance of creating equitable and representative political maps for the state.

“These 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 said.

This is not the first time such a move has been broached. In 2021, state legislators in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties, the three Maryland counties Rose highlighted, asked West Virginia’s legislative leaders to join the state. 

Such a move by the Virginia and Maryland counties would require approval from both state legislatures and Congress, which Rose’s resolution acknowledges. The state senator’s release adds that copies of the resolution will be sent to Youngkin, Moore and the legislative leaders of both states, as well as the 30 county commissions and West Virginia’s congressional delegation. 

Congress has only approved changes to state boundaries three previous times: in 1792, when Kentucky was carved out of Virginia; in 1820, when it cut Maine out of Massachusetts; and in 1862, when it admitted counties that were previously in Virginia as part of West Virginia.