A new database tracking domestic migration shows a massive transfer of wealth and population from Democrat-led states to Republican strongholds over the past decade.
The database, called Vote With Your Feet, was developed by the nonprofit Unleash Prosperity and announced Thursday by former Trump economic advisor Steve Moore and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
It compiles IRS data from 2012 to 2022, examining not only population movement but also the aggregated gross income (AGI) gained or lost as Americans relocated. The database also tracks which party controlled each state’s government throughout the decade.
The data reveals that Democrat-led states suffered the largest economic losses. New York experienced the worst decline, losing more than $111 billion in AGI as residents departed.
California followed closely, forfeiting over $102 billion. Other major losses were recorded in Illinois ($63 billion), New Jersey ($31 billion), and Massachusetts ($19 billion). All five states were primarily under Democratic control for the duration of the study period.
Population decline mirrored the economic losses. New York lost roughly 1.8 million residents, while California shed about 1.6 million over the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, Republican-led states saw significant gains. Florida emerged as the top beneficiary, adding approximately $196 billion in AGI through net inbound migration, along with nearly 1.6 million new residents.
Texas gained $54 billion in AGI, followed by Arizona ($30 billion), North Carolina ($28 billion), and South Carolina ($28 billion). All of these states were largely governed by Republicans during the decade analyzed.
In terms of population growth, the migration trends closely tracked the AGI data. North Carolina attracted more than 521,000 new residents, slightly outpacing Arizona’s 483,000 despite bringing in less income overall.
The Vote With Your Feet database highlights a sustained trend of Americans leaving high-tax, heavily regulated states for lower-tax states with stronger economic growth, offering a detailed picture of how political leadership correlates with migration patterns and economic vitality.