Politics can get wild. But this is beyond the pale.
Now a top Democrat got on her knees and started begging for one humiliating reason.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent plea highlights the stark consequences of high-tax, big-government policies driving away the very people who fuel economic growth—while Florida thrives as a beacon of opportunity and fiscal sanity.
Exposing the High-Tax Exodus
In a revealing admission at the Politico New York Agenda: Albany Summit on March 11, 2026, Gov. Hochul openly acknowledged the erosion of New York’s tax base due to wealthy residents fleeing to lower-tax havens like Florida.
Amid pressure from far-left figures pushing massive tax hikes to fund expansive programs, she lamented the loss of high-net-worth individuals who once propped up the state’s finances. This migration surge accelerated in 2025, as residents sought relief from New York’s punishing tax environment and embraced states that reward success rather than penalize it.
A 2023 Siena College poll already showed 27% of New Yorkers planning to leave within five years, with many citing retirement or economic pressures—trends that have only worsened under continued heavy-handed governance.
A Hypocritical About-Face
Hochul’s current desperation stands in sharp contrast to her past rhetoric. Back in her 2022 gubernatorial campaign, she dismissively told political opponents: “Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro – just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong. OK? Get out of town. Because you don’t represent our values. You’re not New Yorkers…” Now, facing the fallout from those very “values”—soaring costs, overregulation, and generous social spending—she’s singing a different tune, essentially begging those same high-earners to return.
She stated plainly: “I need people who are high-net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state, right? Now, there are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. Okay, cut me the checks if you want to be supportive. But maybe the first step should be to go down to Palm Beach and see who we can bring back home because our tax base has been eroded.”
The irony is thick: after scorning conservatives and driving talent away, she’s now pleading for their return to subsidize the very policies that prompted the exodus.
Championing Freedom and Prosperity
This episode underscores why so many Americans are voting with their feet toward pro-growth states like Florida, which boasts no state income tax, responsible budgeting, and an economy that lets success flourish without endless government overreach.
New York’s challenges stem from decades of progressive policies that prioritize expansive welfare over fiscal restraint, ultimately burdening hardworking taxpayers and businesses.
Hochul’s plea serves as an unintentional endorsement of lower-tax, limited-government approaches that attract wealth and opportunity.
True American ingenuity and prosperity thrive where individuals are free to keep more of what they earn—proving once again that red-state models offer a better path forward for families, entrepreneurs, and the future of the nation.
