Decisions like the Beckers to move to somewhere they feel more politically aligned are becoming more common. Political scientist James Gimpel, at the University of Maryland, is looking at the trends.

Lisa: Does the data bear out that people are moving because of their political ideologies?

Gimpel: I see that it’s happening more and more. Political considerations are figuring into the mix of criteria that people use in selecting a destination.

Lisa: Politics used to be confined primarily to the ballot box, and now it has really seeped into every aspect of our life.

Gimpel: Politics now informs, or is now closely associated with, very common consumption decisions — including consumption about housing.

Experts believe the trend accelerated during Covid, in part because workers had the chance to work from home, spend more time in their neighborhood, and for many, that prompted a decision to move.

Texas drew much of the attention and new political immigrants as southern Californians left one of the most expensive places to live in America — and a Democratic stronghold — for the Lone Star state.

(video link from Full Measure)

[Hello from Texas! — Ed]