I welcome your emails. Here’s one I received this week…
First, let me give you the answer that I gave Ron.
Hello Ron,
If a county wants to leave one U.S. state and join another, several legal and constitutional steps must occur—this is an extremely rare and complicated process governed by Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution.
Here’s what must happen:
- Consent of the Original State’s Legislature
The state the county is leaving must formally approve the departure via a bill passed in its legislature and signed by the governor.
Why it’s hard: States rarely give up territory, population, or tax revenue willingly. Weld County is rich in Ag and Oil and Gas – you think Polis and his cronies will willingly let us go?
- Consent of the New State’s Legislature
The state the county wants to join must also formally agree to accept the county through its legislative process.
This is sometimes easier politically if the new state aligns more with the county’s values or economy. As much as I like and more politically align with our friends in Wyoming, let’s be real: Wyo’s population is 587,618. Weld County’s population is 377,794. Cheyenne, Wyo’s capital and most populous city, has 65,114 people. Greeley, Weld County’s seat, has 114,833 people. Do you think that Wyoming would increase its population by 65% and have Greeley become the state’s largest city and most logical capital, all while increasing its number of democrats by a factor of approximately 4? I don’t see that happening.
- Approval by the U.S. Congress
Finally, Congress must approve the change. Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution says:
“no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State… without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”
Congress could, in theory, attach conditions or block the move entirely—even if both states approve.
It’s not impossible, but it is improbable.
I’m a native Coloradan, and I am proud of that. It’s a tough fight, but a worthy one, to continue trying to wake up normie Coloradans and get them to realize just how bad our state legislature and governor are. That’s where my fight will continue to be.
Thanks for asking!
skj
Now, some history and my thoughts.
Since taking office as commissioner in 2019, I’ve heard the same refrain every single week—emails, comments, you name it. “Why don’t we just leave Colorado?” And I get it. Denver’s ruling class seems hell-bent on turning the state into a progressive theme park, complete with Marxist rides and centrally planned funnel cakes. It’s a far cry from the values here in Weld County, where folks still believe in things like personal freedom, affordable energy, and not being taxed and “fee’d” into oblivion.
Right after I got sworn in, the “Weld County, Wyoming” initiative was catching fire. The idea was simple: if Colorado won’t listen to us, maybe Wyoming will. Christopher “Todd” Richards and his crew pushed to get a measure on the 2021 ballot that would have told commissioners to start chatting with Cheyenne about a possible annexation. Even Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon gave it a friendly nod. We met with the group—solid people with genuine concerns. But the logistics? Let’s just say this wasn’t a bumper-sticker solution. Governor Polis swatted it away with a smug little “Hands off Weld County,” like we were his personal backyard barbecue set.
And speaking of Polis—funny how he once boasted about owning property in Weld County. Here’s the throwback gem:
He never did take me up on that neighborly invite. Ironic, because his Weld County Country Home is just six miles from mine. But on one point, I’ll meet him halfway—Weld folks are proud Coloradans. I am, too. Proud of the Colorado I used to know, before it was hijacked by Boulder braintrusts and downtown Denver do-gooders. But we don’t run—we dig in. That’s the Western way.
Before Weld flirted with Wyoming, we were leading the charge on the 51st State Initiative back in 2013. That effort was a direct clapback to Hickenlooper-era policies—gun control, energy mandates, and a general vibe of “we know better than you bumpkins.” Eleven counties put the question to voters; only five said yes. It was symbolic, sure, but it made the point: rural Colorado was sick of being ignored, legislated over, and treated like Denver/Boulder’s ugly stepchild.
And here’s the kicker—compared to Polis, Hickenlooper looks like Reagan in a cowboy hat. Under Polis, the Denver/Boulder axis has doubled down on elitism, groupthink, and top-down planning with all the subtlety of a jackhammer in a library. He’s got one more session to unload the worst of it—expect a Hail Mary of half-baked utopianism. But while he’s doing that, a new gubernatorial race will be underway. That’s our shot to drag Local Control, Public Safety, and Energy Freedom out of the shadows and right onto center stage—where they damn well belong.
I’m working overtime to find ways Weld County can flex our Home Rule Charter like a barbell at a freedom gym and push back against the creeping tentacles of Denver/Boulder overreach. This week, I’ll be rolling out a few of those ideas—real, actionable stuff, not just shouting into the void—and I’ll be asking for your feedback. Because it’s time Weld County draws a big, bold line in the sand—permanent marker, not pencil—and tells the smug, latte-fueled elites from the Denver/Boulder ruling class to keep their top-down extremism on their side of that line. We’ve got our own house to run, thanks.
