A web search finds recent reports from Florida and Texas that indicate most of the new arrivals, who’ve moved there and registered to vote, are registering Republican. This is worth considering.
There are two theories about why people are moving to Florida and Texas, two red states with big population gains. One theory holds that people move there because the jobs are there and cost of living (mostly housing) is cheaper. The other holds that they move because they are dissatisfied with the way the blue state where they formerly lived was being run.
Let’s begin by recognizing that likely there are those who move for each of those reasons. There are liberals whose companies move their headquarters to TX or FL and who, to maintain their seniority, position, etc. tag along. There are probably scores, maybe even hundreds of these reluctant transplants.
Much more common, I imagine, are those who are unhappy with the way NY or CA is being run (seemingly “into the ground”). They have moved to a place where they will no longer be part of a disgruntled and politically impotent minority.
I understand the concerns which prompted Instapundit Glenn Reynolds to advocate something like “Welcome Wagon” for new red state arrivals, reminding them not to vote for those who advocate the policies they didn’t like back home. I understand but wonder if perhaps it is unnecessary. A fair amount of anecdotal+ evidence suggests it may be unneeded for the second group, and ineffective for the first, reluctant group.
