Senator Invites Page County to Become Part of West Virginia
PAGE COUNTY, Va. — On November 5, 2025, West Virginia Senator Chris Rose introduced a resolution inviting 27 counties from Virginia and three from Maryland to consider joining the Mountain State. Several Shenandoah Valley counties, including Page, were mentioned in the proposal.
The announcement followed Virginia Democrats’ win of three statewide offices on Election Day.
While many areas in the Commonwealth voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates, several traditionally Republican counties (including Page) did not.
In the same week, the governor of neighboring Maryland announced redistricting plans aimed at ensuring fairness by improving the state’s current congressional map.
Rose’s resolution seeks to unite strongly conservative counties in Virginia and Maryland with substantially Republican West Virginia.
A written statement from the senator’s office reads:
The resolution highlights the historical precedent set by West Virginia’s formation in 1863, when counties separated from Virginia amid national division.
It invites the Virginia counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Dickenson, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Highland, Lee, Page, Patrick, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Wise, and Wythe, along with Maryland’s Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, to explore unification.
These areas share geographic, economic, cultural, and historical connections with West Virginia, including a strong Appalachian heritage, rural lifestyles, and a focus on individual liberties.
Senator Rose emphasized that 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,” said Senator Rose. “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 resolution notes that such a realignment would require approval from the Virginia and Maryland legislatures, as well as the U.S. Congress, under Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution.
It encourages discussions, referenda, and collaboration among residents, local governments, and state leaders.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to the governors and legislative leaders of Virginia and Maryland, the specified county commissions, and West Virginia’s congressional delegation.
According to his online biography, Rose is a fourth-generation coal miner who assumed public office in 2024.
Page County, Virginia’s 2025 voting results may be viewed HERE.