June 21, 2022 3:20 a.m. 

The most recent leader of Oregon’s State of Jefferson movement. Bob Chard, has endorsed the Greater Idaho movement.

Chard said it might have a better chance of success than movements that attempt to create a new state out of Oregon. A release said both plans require the approval of the Oregon Legislature, but only creating a new state would add two Republicans to the U.S. Senate. Chard agreed that the legislature is more likely to approve the Greater Idaho plan because it would not affect the U.S. Senate.

The release said Chard has been the main volunteer for the State of Jefferson movement in Oregon since he revived it in 2015. After gathering thousands of signatures at county fairs around southern and eastern Oregon, he decided to cease his efforts when he understood that California state legislators and judges had ignored California’s State of Jefferson movement, where more progress had been made. Chard said without a path to success, the movement in Oregon is now at an impasse. No one has taken his place at the helm of the movement.

Updated maps for the Greater Idaho movement at linked: www.greateridaho.org/the-maps