If you’re a conservative or libertarian living in a blue state, you have likely grappled with this question on multiple occasions over the past decade. Should you stay and continue fighting back against progressive policies making your state unbearable? Or should you pack it up and head for Texas or Florida?
I’ve seen this debate play out ad nauseam on social media and elsewhere with folks making valid arguments on both sides of the issue. As a native Californian who moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, then rural Louisiana in April of this year, I’ve faced this question head on.
Regardless of which side one falls on, this is not a black and white issue, but it is an important strategic question when it comes to preventing the authoritarian left from taking over the country.
RedState’s Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar has often addressed this conversation on social media. As a conservative Californian, she has repeatedly expressed her resolve to remain in the Golden State to push back against progressive governance. To anyone who knows her, this is no surprise – she is a fighter, after all.
Almost blocking you for this... Resisting the urge to drop several F bombs... Anyone who's followed me for as long as you have knows I'm not going anywhere. The freaking commies can leave. The "sane" people who left, most of them are wimps https://t.co/fbz5VM9p8X
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) November 7, 2024
Others like conservative talk show host Jesse Kelly has suggested that right-leaning Americans living in blue states should make the move to a red state for a variety of reasons. For starters, the progressive hold on states like California seem impossible to break. For folks like Kelly, it makes more sense for limited government types to move to parts of the country that reflect their values.
Yeah. It’s so funny. All these people who’ve improved their lives by moving to be around people who share their values. LMAO!!! Hahaha!! What morons, right?
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) August 31, 2024
They should just fight off the gangs in NYC and wear a MAGA hat.
We have some weapons-grade losers on our side. https://t.co/3IvCvElcsq
What is interesting is that Americans of all political persuasions are relocating for politically motivated reasons. But it is happening far more on the right – especially among millennials. Texas has attracted hundreds of thousands of millennials. Montana has seen the highest net gain in this demographic. The impetus behind this trend is concerns about economic factors and quality of life.
The trend has also been discussed in conversations about a possible national divorce, with the nation splitting into two separate countries. While this scenario is not likely to manifest, it appears to be happening in a different way, with more Americans moving to areas of the country that reflect their political and cultural values.
There are several compelling reasons why a conservative or libertarian might choose to remain in a blue state. For starters, these individuals could have an opportunity to influence policy at the local level, using their voting power to create more balance in the government. They might be the only ones ensuring that their state government doesn’t lurch even further to the left.
If they are consistent and persistent in their activism, they might even be able to eventually flip the state from blue to purple and maybe even to red. Such an initiative would probably have to start at the local level — especially in states like California and New York where far leftist Democrats have a stranglehold on the state legislatures and governor’s seats.
After gaining wins at the local level, perhaps conservatives can change enough minds to start affecting the state government. This would not be an overnight proposition and would likely take several decades to accomplish. But it could be done if there are enough people who are in it for the long haul. It’s how Democrats managed to turn Colorado blue and nearly do the same with Georgia.
On the other hand, there are plenty of reasons to hire that moving truck and head out to a red state. In these areas of the country, conservatives can be among like-minded people who share their social, cultural, and economic values. This would provide a sense of community that might be hard to find in a blue state.
Living in a red state could give conservatives the opportunity to exert more influence over state governments – which are often not nearly as conservative as they might have you think. In Texas, there is no income tax. But the government certainly makes up the tax money they have supposedly sacrificed by imposing exorbitant property taxes.
The reality is that many so-called red states are run by Republicans, but not necessarily conservatives. Many of these elected GOP politicians are the same type of Diet Democrats we see in Congress. However, since they do have the “R” next to their name, it could be easier to push them in the right direction than a Democrat who is unapologetic in their support of big government.
It is also worth noting that the quality of life can be much better in a red state. In fact, this was the reason I moved to Texas in the first place. There was simply more opportunity there and a lower cost of living than southern California. For some, this reason alone would be enough to make them flee a blue state.
But, at the end of the day, we must apply nuance to this issue. For some, it makes sense to stay in a blue state and fight to change it. For others, the burden might be too much on their families to remain. People must do what is right for themselves and their loved ones. This is far more important than politics.
So, I would say that if one is able and willing to stay and fight, they should do so. But those who are not in that position should not be shamed for making the move to a red state.
