New Yorkers Moving to Florida for Better Jobs and Lower Taxes, Survey Finds

Republican governor Ron DeSantis regularly points to the state’s success in attracting residents of blue states Republican Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis and Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul / Getty Images

After a record number of New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2022, new polling finds that a majority fled the Democratic-controlled state for lower taxes and better economic opportunities.

28 percent of respondents stated that they moved to Florida to reduce taxes. 25 percent said they wanted to live in a lower cost area. Fifteen percent said “better job and career opportunities” Their motivation for moving. According to the survey, only 5.4% of relocations were due to warmer weather.

These data are coming as Ron DeSantis (R.), Florida governor, prepares for a possible 2024 presidential run. With his tax- and business-friendly policies, the Republican often points out Florida’s success in attracting people from blue states.

One-fifth to one-fifth the 300,000 Americans who moved from New York last year to Florida came from New York. According The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides driver’s license data.

During the a Visit DeSantis spoke to Staten Island last Wednesday about the exodus of New Yorkers to his state.

“When you’re out there setting the agenda, not just for Florida, but really for the nation, which we’ve done over the last few years, people see that, and people who don’t necessarily like that are going to respond accordingly,” DeSantis said.

In November, DeSantis won the race by almost 19 points, the largest margin in a Florida governor’s race in 40-years. He isn’t afraid to take on controversial positions such as calling out You are awake Educational curricula, and the removal of special protections from Disney because of its left-wing agenda.

DeSantis cited New York’s problems as a result of the prioritization left-wing values.

“The reason you have what you have here and, in some of these other jurisdictions, is they are putting woke ideology ahead of your safety as New Yorkers,” He stated this last week.