Metropolitan Miami was already a lure even before Covid, with its warm weather, white sand beaches and absence of state — though not federal — income tax.

It is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city that is attractive to European and Latin American investors.

But the pandemic made Miami even more of a mecca. Strict lockdown rules in other parts of the United States and the rise of working from home for a company that could be far away caused many people to up and move to the south of Florida.

They flocked from northeastern cities such as New York and Boston, as well as from California, and found cheaper rent and Republican politicians eager to get the state economy running again after the ravages of Covid lockdowns.