A Republican running for Congress in Oregon is advising voters against their attempt to secede the eastern part of the state from conservative Idaho, saying residents should seek change through the ballot box.
In late May, thirteen counties in the eastern part of the state voted to begin negotiating how to secede from liberal Oregon and join its redder neighboring state of Idaho.
This “Greater Idaho Movement” has been going on for years because conservatives feel underrepresented there due to Oregon’s populated liberal bastions in the west, like Portland.
Monique DeSpain is a retired Air Force colonel running for Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes the liberal college city of Eugene. She encourages residents to stay in the state and elect her so she can solve the progressive area’s problems.
Republican congressional candidate Monique DeSpain speaks at an election observation party
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, DeSpain highlighted how she plans to tackle these issues head-on if elected – and why disillusioned Oregonians should not secede, but stay in the fight to improve the state .
“I encourage people to stay and fight,” DeSpain told DailyMail.com.
“We must stand tall and fight for America. It’s not just Oregon. California’s problems moved to Oregon, and there is a lot of resentment about that.’
“This is our problem, and we have to stand our ground and address it.”
She said voters in her area are fed up with Democrats’ decades-long control of the state, which has led to an explosion in fentanyl deaths and homelessness.
“Portland does not represent the majority of Oregon…just as Eugene does not represent the majority of the people in the Fourth District. That’s why we’re going to win, because these issues resonate across the district.”
“I understand the sentiment as if we’re not represented, that’s what this whole fight for me and this congressional seat is about.”
“At the end of the day, America is the only free nation on earth, so we can’t start by leaving Oregon and going to Idaho.”
At least a dozen conservative eastern Oregon counties approve ballot measures for a secession vote that would allow them to join unwoke Idaho
Fentanyl, a highly addictive, harmful drug, is causing a crisis on the streets of Portland, Oregon. The drug, easily produced in Mexico, flows across the porous southern border in pill form
Fentanyl-related deaths and homelessness are a persistent problem in her hometown of Eugene, DeSpain said
She told DailyMail.com about efforts to address homelessness across the state.
“We have over 2,000 nonprofits serving this homeless addiction community, which is just incredible considering we’re still the worst in the country,” she said.
“So there is no progress, but I don’t believe there will be a shortage of money for these issues.”
“I would demand audits and that everyone involved in that area of recovery and addiction, homelessness, recovery in their mission statement, because I know a lot of them don’t.”
And despite the huge influx of funding to treat addiction and homelessness, its communities are still riddled with users and housing devoid of homes, saying the problem continues unabated.
“So it would be to bring transparency and accountability to the money coming from Congress,” she said, adding that she would focus on appropriately distributing “the federal dollars that should be used to solve the problem to solve, and not to perpetuate it.’
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., leads EPAC – an organization that supports female GOP candidates for Congress. The group held an event near the Capitol on Tuesday spotlighting candidates like DeSpain
Joining Stefanik at the event were Republican candidates (from left to right) Mayra Flores, Texas, Yvette Herrell, NM, Alison Esposito, NY, Laurie Buckhout, NC, Monique DeSpain, Oregon, and Caroleene Dobson, Ala.
Republican congressional candidate Monique DeSpain looks at the election results during an election observation party hosted by DeSpain’s campaign Tuesday, May 21, 2024
DeSpain was one of several female candidates for the House of Representatives at an event hosted by House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Capitol Hill earlier this week.
The EPAC ‘Rising Stars’ event spotlighted female candidates from across the US who Stefanik has endorsed and who Republicans believe have a good chance of turning seats red in November.
DeSpain was joined at the event by fellow Republican candidates Yvette Herrell, NM, Mayra Flores, Texas, Alison Esposito, NY, Laurie Buckhout, NC, and Caroleene Dobson, Ala.
“I entered this race because I am not one to shy away from a decent fight,” DeSpain told the crowd of about 50 people.
“I served for thirty years, most of them as [Judge Advocate General’s Corps]. “I am a single mother who raised twins in Eugene, right in the Fourth District, and I am an attorney who has advocated for the rights of victims and business owners and advocated for public policy.”