West Virginia lawmakers invite red, rural counties in Virginia, Maryland to secede and join 'almost heaven'

GOP lawmakers are renewing a push to have some of the more conservative-leaning rural counties in Virginia and Maryland join West Virginia. WV state Senator Chris Rose announced the campaign on X, calling the effort an "Appeal to Heaven."

"Exciting update on our Appeal to Heaven movement for freedom in Appalachia! Due to overwhelming interest and support, I'm thrilled to announce we've expanded our Senate resolution inviting even more Virginia counties, along with counties from Maryland, to join West Virginia. Now including Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Floyd, Pulaski, and Rockbridge, counties that share our values of freedom, Second Amendment rights, and rural prosperity," Rose wrote on X.

"Let those country roads take you home. Break free from out of touch policies and unite for a stronger future. Take action now: Sign the petition in the comments below to support this movement and make your voice heard!" he added.

He urged others to take action by signing a petition to support the "Appeal to Heaven" campaign. The petition states, "For too long, rural communities in Western Virginia and Western Maryland have been ruled by distant politicians in Richmond and Annapolis who don’t share our values. They restrict your Second Amendment rights, raise your taxes, indoctrinate your children, and funnel your hard-earned dollars into radical green experiments and government waste."

The petition provides a "lawful path" for counties in Virginia to vote on switching state lines. It cites a resolution from West Virginia House of Delegates member Chris Anders, who proposed the bill to allow the border localities to switch their allegiance.

The bill, as written, would need lawmakers from all three states as well as Congress for it to take place. Rose has started outreach in 33 different jurisdictions, 30 of them being in Virginia and three in Maryland. It was proposed in the 2025 year, but Anders has said he will bring it to the House of Delegates again in 2026.