Republican State Representative Jeremy Munson of Minnesota is being mocked by all sides online after introducing a bill to let Minnesota counties west of the Twin Cities defect to South Dakota.
Munson, who is also part of a lawsuit attempting to strip emergency powers from the state's Democratic governor, says he wants to give Western Minnesota the opportunity "to join a state that respects Freedom and Liberty."
Petition to allow MN counties to join a State that respects Freedom and Liberty https://t.co/a3TA9E32Vi four-step p… https://t.co/af0ZhaPm4T— Jeremy Munson (@Jeremy Munson) 1616702017.0
Minnesota is a swing state, while South Dakota votes reliably Republican.
Tell you what, throw North Dakota in there and you’ve got a deal! https://t.co/QWMwuzjuO1— Armand Domalewski (@Armand Domalewski) 1616712760.0
I’m always oddly fascinated by these efforts to make new states that will obviously never happen. https://t.co/hdV0bID5Q7— Dan Shafer (@Dan Shafer) 1616710352.0
Couple this with DC statehood and let's do it yesterday. https://t.co/nzPEnpsqbH— Alex Hazanov. (@Alex Hazanov.) 1616710051.0
Democrats from Minnesota were all for Munson's plan.
By moving a huge chunk of right-leaning counties into a solidly Red state, it would tilt Minnesota even bluer without any added benefit for the Republican party.
@jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem big shelbyville energy https://t.co/PEVYNGjf1E— briguy (@briguy) 1616703333.0
@jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem Interesting. How many seats in congress do you think Republicans would gai… https://t.co/0PSkHG5XIz— 🦫 (@🦫) 1616704688.0
Many online encouraged Munson to pack his bags and jump ship whenever he felt like it.
@grudging1 @jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem Make a red state redder and ensure MN stays blue? Mmm, ok?— Smoochy the Rhino (@Smoochy the Rhino) 1616710718.0
@MVoiceofreason @jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem 100%! Pack your bags and drive!— Jeremy’s Son (@Jeremy’s Son) 1616704071.0
The racial element at play in Munson's proposal was also hard to ignore.
@ReaIBurnerAcct @jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem The nature is that predominantly white communities are un… https://t.co/TDISRrUKUG— ali I. (@ali I.) 1616717115.0
@jeremymunson @govkristinoem @KristiNoem If you like South Dakota so much you should move there (instead of switchi… https://t.co/oytdm6weyP— Minnesota Sports Fan (@Minnesota Sports Fan) 1616702560.0
A state representative advocating for his constituents to leave the state might not be a good look come election season.
Me: the pandemic sucks. Please, politicians, do something that helps us. This clown: how’s this work for ya? https://t.co/RFTsc42Uri— - - - - - (@- - - - -) 1616763289.0
They’re giving up folks. They know they’ll never win another statewide election for a generation. https://t.co/8Ab9YYP7mz— theodoors (@theodoors) 1616718101.0
No conservative areas please don't secede from swing states and join solid red states https://t.co/yr4i0Y0Bkf https://t.co/PAO8spN2Cj— IKEA Imperialism Enjoyer 🧦🥂🌐🔰🇺🇸 (@IKEA Imperialism Enjoyer 🧦🥂🌐🔰🇺🇸) 1616718087.0
Like so many other grassroots plans to secede from various states, it's incredibly unlikely Munson's proposal will gain legislative traction.