fleeing “blue” states. But here’s the deal: It very much has an impact on the electoral college. It is a slow process, that’s for sure. But it is demonstrably happening.
And the great thing is not just that conservative states are gaining seats. No, it’s a double whammy, because Lefty States are very much losing population. So they will lose seats.
GOP bastions Idaho and Utah should gain one seat each. But Florida and Texas — wow. A gain of four seats each. Florida only caught up to New York after the 2010 census and by 2030 will be one-third larger. Impressive as that is, Florida’s representation was actually delayed by Census Bureau undercounts in the 2020 census. Texas was undercounted by more than half a million people and Florida by 761,000. Those undercounts cost them one seat each. Overcounts helped Minnesota and Rhode Island hang on to seats they shouldn’t have.
And it is natural for those of us who live in more conservative states don’t want those “Leftugees” to “californicate” their new area. The feel is that they crapped in their own nest and made it unlivable so they moved to a functioning area and will crap in that nest, too.
And it is a valid fear, and the kind of change that should be fought against. I mean, Idaho is a nice place; California was much nicer place than Idaho and Leftism has made it a stinking hellhole! So of course there is great trepidation in seeing hordes of Californians hit Idaho like a cloud of voracious locust.
Still, the Florida data show that the mass emigration they have had has made their state more conservative. They went from being a “purple” state to being bright red. And the data show that the new residents tend to be a little more conservative than the old ones. Why?
Well, one big reason is Ron DeSantis. He has shown himself to be amazingly competent and wise. So competent and wise people have flocked to Florida. Those who were already conservative moved. Those who were on the Left were not particularly motivated to move (and/or were not financially able to).
It is a big deal to sell your house, find a new job, leave all your friends and familiar places, and uproot your family in order to move to a new area. You do not make a choice to do that unless there are significant pressures. Yes, there are people who move because of a job or whatever, but most people who are willing to go to the pain of moving are not in that basket. They are fleeing.
In short, most of these people are Leftugees, not missionaries. Yes, there is mix and things are not totally one way or the other. But the trend is toward Conservatism.
And that is not particularly surprising. Throughout history, we have always seen groups of people who separate from others because they cannot tolerate some aspect of what their society has become. There is this natural separation of people. And I think that that is what we are seeing here.
