I live in a very, very red state. I love my state so much that I can’t even conceive of why I would ever want to move. But sometimes, when I’m driving around, gloating about our latest awesome law, I see a license plate that worries me. A license plate that says “Illinois” or “California” or “Oregon” or “Washington” or “New York”. It seems to be happening more and more. Should I be worried?

According to the Wall Street Journal (archived), I should not be worried.

The article begins by talking about South Carolina:

A Wall Street Journal analysis of census data found that a third of the state’s new residents between 2017 and 2021 hailed from blue states and a quarter from red ones, according to census data. The remainder came from closely divided states, including nearby Georgia and North Carolina, or are immigrants.

Yet the new arrivals are disproportionately Republican. Estimates from the nonpartisan voter file vendor L2 suggest about 57% of voters who moved to South Carolina during that time are Republicans, while about 36% are Democrats and 7% are independents. That places them roughly in line with recent statewide votes in South Carolina.

[…]The Palmetto State is a prime example of why a yearslong wave of migration to the South has largely failed to change its partisan tint. Many people who leave blue states are Republicans gravitating toward a more politically favorable new home.

And they also cover Florida:

In Florida, for instance, 48% of people who moved there between 2017 and 2021 came from blue states while 29% came from red states, Census figures show. Among those who registered to vote, 44% are Republicans, 25% are Democrats and 28% are nonpartisan, according to L2 data.

And Texas:

Texas also has a heavier flow of newcomers from blue states but a greater share who L2 data estimates are Republican.

I guess we will find out what happens when we see the election numbers in November. I am hoping that the number of people who vote Democrat goes down in every county of my state. That would mean that the right kind of people were moving here.

What I would really like my state, and other red states, to do is pass laws that chase the secular left riff raff out of the state. For example, strict laws against abortion and against LGBT indoctrination of children. Strict laws reining in labor unions, especially teacher unions. Strict laws against criminals and violent protestors. All of these laws that promote hard work and frugality will cause the wrong kind of people to leave our red states. And that will make those of us who are already here much happier.