Progressive Backlash: California, Other Blue States, Lost Most Residents of All States in 2021

Progressive Backlash: California, Other Blue States, Lost Most Residents of All States in 2021


Not that the Democratic supermajority that runs California is going to care, but it is highly likely their uber-leftist policies are driving taxpayers out of their state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Golden State lost more residents this year, percentage-wise, than any other state this year, even though it remains the most populous in the country.

Just the News adds:

This year, California lost nearly 367,300 residents via net migration, according to the report. In all, the state’s population shrunk by 0.7% between 2020 and 2021.

Despite these losses, California still remains the most populous state in the nation, with an estimated population of more than 39.2 million as of July 2021, the report notes. The second most populous state is Texas, which has a population of over 29.5 million.

“Population growth has been slowing for years because of lower birth rates and decreasing net international migration, all while mortality rates are rising due to the aging of the nation’s population,” said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Population Division at the Census Bureau. “Now, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this combination has resulted in a historically slow pace of growth.”

The report noted further: “Between 2020 and 2021, 33 states saw population increases and 17 states and the District of Columbia lost population, 11 of which had losses of over 10,000 people. This is a historically large number of states to lose population in a year.”

One of them, of course, was California. Another was the blue, authoritarian state of New York.

“New York had the largest annual and cumulative numeric population decline, decreasing by 319,020 (1.6%) and 365,336 (1.8%), respectively,” the Census report said.

What drove New York’s decline? Easy: Fewer Americans wanted to move to ‘COVID lockdown central.’

“New York’s declining population in the last year was attributed to negative domestic migration,” the report said.

And let’s not forget the nation’s capital.

“Over the past year, the District of Columbia’s population declined by 2.9%, or 20,043 residents, to a population of 670,050 in 2021. This was the largest annual percent decrease in the nation,” Census’ report said.

Which states grew? Red ones, of course.

“With a population of 29,527,941 in 2021, Texas had the largest annual and cumulative numeric gain, increasing by 310,288 (1.1%) and 382,436 (1.3%), respectively,” the Census Bureau report noted. “While gaining population through net international migration (27,185), the growth in Texas in the last year was primarily due to gains from net domestic migration (170,307) and natural increase (113,845).

Which state had the largest influx? “Idaho had the fastest annual and cumulative population increase, growing by 2.9% (53,151) in the last year, and by 3.4% (61,817) since April 1, 2020,” the report said, noting that most of the state’s increase came internally.

“Idaho made modest gains from natural increase (4,398) and net international migration (413); however, the main driver of its fast increase was net domestic migration (48,876),” it added.

“The largest net domestic migration gains were in Florida (220,890), Texas (170,307) and Arizona (93,026),” said the report.

Just the News added this cherry on top for California:

report released earlier this month from the nonpartisan California Policy Lab revealed that the state is likely seeing population losses due to a sharp decline in people migrating to the state. According to the report, entrances to California dropped by 38% between March 2020 and September 2021, while exits increased by 12%.

Due to a loss of population, California will lose a Congressional seat for the first time in history. The state will now have 52 seats in the House of Representatives as opposed to 53.

Could California’s population decline have anything at all to do with left-wing regulation? Perhaps; Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an astounding 770 bills into law in October (must have taken him the entire month) including one that regulations — not even kidding — bacon.

“Proposition 12 seeks to improve living conditions for farm animals in California, and some say it’s the strongest animal welfare law ever passed in the U.S. The ballot initiative — which was approved by voters in 2018 — makes metal enclosures that restrict pigs from turning around and battery cages that prevent hens from opening their wings illegal,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported this week.

Goodbye, California. We hardly knew ye.


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