MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia state senator has introduced a resolution inviting 30 counties from Virginia and Maryland — including Allegany, Garrett and Washington — to join his state.
Sen. Chris Rose, who represents the state’s District 2, which includes Monongalia County, wrote in a Facebook post that the invitation aims to “strengthen regional ties and promote shared Appalachian values.”
“The resolution highlights the historical precedent set by West Virginia’s formation in 1863, when counties separated from Virginia amid national division,” he said Wednesday.
Rose’s resolution comes after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, launched a redistricting advisory commission this week to recommend new congressional maps.
“My commitment has been clear from day one — we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” Moore said Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, Democrat Abigail Spanberger won Virginia’s gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl-Sears.
Rose said the counties invited share geographic, economic, cultural and historical connections with West Virginia, including a strong Appalachian heritage, rural lifestyles and a focus on individual liberties.
He said the move could address residents’ concerns over policies in their current states that may not align with local priorities, such as Second Amendment rights, economic development and rural representation.
“This resolution is about empowering communities to choose governance that truly reflects their values and needs,” the senator said. “West Virginia was born from the spirit of self-determination, and we’re extending that invitation to our neighbors who share our way of life. By uniting, we can foster economic growth, better infrastructure and a stronger voice for Appalachia.”
The idea is not new.
In 2021, some representatives of Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties traveled to Charleston to discuss the possibility of joining the Mountain State.
At the time, Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, then West Virginia’s governor, said the state is “standing here with open arms.”
Then Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, called the idea a “mistake.”
“I think it was really just to gain some attention,” Hogan said. “They’ve been talking about this for decades. I understand the frustration of people in Western Maryland, who sometimes feel out of step, maybe neglected or forgotten by an increasingly more progressive legislature that doesn’t somehow relate to some of the folks in our rural areas. But I don’t think that’s the right way to go about it. I think it was a publicity stunt which worked well … but it’s not really going to happen.”
Realignment would require approval from the Virginia and Maryland legislatures, as well as the U.S. Congress.