Many Oregonians—especially those in rural areas—feel underrepresented in our state legislature. Their voices on legislative matters often go unheard, a problem that has persisted since as early as 1941, when proposals even suggested merging Southern Oregon counties with parts of Northern California to form a new State of Jefferson.

More recently, the Greater Idaho Movement has proposed joining parts of Eastern Oregon and the proposed Jefferson State with Idaho. I do not believe that splitting Oregon or merging parts of it with another state is a solution. Without addressing the root cause of unequal representation, the voices of rural communities will continue to be drowned out by the political power of large cities.

Guaranteeing a Republican Form of Government

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states:

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”

Although courts have often ruled that enforcing this clause is nonjusticiable, the founders’ intent is clear: every state deserves a government that truly represents its people.

The Role of a Bicameral Legislature

Our federal government, as established by the U.S. Constitution, is bicameral by design—a system intended to balance representation. In the federal system, the House of Representatives is based on population, while the Senate provides equal representation for every state. This ensures that no single, heavily populated area can dominate the lawmaking process.

In Oregon, however, we claim to have a bicameral legislature, but both houses are elected primarily based on population. Members of the Oregon House represent roughly 70,000 citizens for two-year terms, and State Senators represent about 140,000 citizens for four-year terms. With most of Oregon’s population concentrated in cities like Portland, Eugene, and Salem, rural areas—though they cover the majority of the state’s land—are consistently underrepresented.

A Remedy for Unbalanced Representation

This imbalance means that rural voices are routinely outvoted in statewide elections, ballot measures, and legislative decisions, leading many rural residents to feel disenfranchised or even leave the state. The solution is to rethink how our legislature is structured.

While we can maintain the current system for the State House of Representatives, our State Senate should be reformed to better reflect our state’s geography. Oregon is made up of 36 counties—just as the United States is composed of 50 states. Yet, in our state legislative system, counties have little to no direct representation.

I propose that the Oregon State Senate be restructured to include one or two representatives from each county, mirroring the federal model that guarantees equal representation for every state in the Senate. Currently, eight counties exert disproportionate influence over the legislative process at the expense of the remaining 28 counties. This is not how a fair and balanced government should operate.

Together, we must work toward a legislature that truly represents all Oregonians—both urban and rural—ensuring that every county has a voice in shaping our state’s future.