Deep-blue states including New York, California, and Illinois lost over $300 billion in income from 2012 to 2022 due to residents relocating to Republican-led states. Newly released IRS data confirms that conservative states like Florida and Texas absorbed the most wealth and population, driven by pro-growth policies and lower tax burdens.
New data compiled by the “Vote With Your Feet” database from the nonprofit Unleash Prosperity details the mass financial migration. New York lost more than $111 billion in adjusted gross income (AGI), followed by California with over $102 billion, Illinois with $63 billion, New Jersey with $31 billion, and Massachusetts with $19 billion. All five states have been under consistent Democrat control throughout the ten-year period.
Meanwhile, Florida gained approximately $196 billion in AGI—the most of any state. Texas followed with a $54 billion gain. Other red states seeing large financial inflows include Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina, each adding nearly $30 billion in income. Population growth paralleled these numbers, with Florida gaining 1.6 million residents while California and New York lost 1.6 million and 1.8 million respectively.
The analysis, supported by economist Stephen Moore and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, shows residents are relocating to states with lower taxes, better business climates, and stronger personal freedoms. Red states continue to attract both capital and families seeking economic opportunity and ideological alignment.
The Supreme Court’s recent decisions affirming state authority over regulatory and tax policy have emboldened such state-led policy contrasts. Conservative governors have used this momentum to bolster local economies while blue states confront budget shortfalls and increasing outmigration.
Surveys indicate Americans are increasingly weighing political leadership when deciding where to live. Some conservative real estate firms even tailor services around moving families from blue to red states. Migration is not just reshaping America’s population map—it’s transferring economic power to Republican-led regions.
