Washington State Voter Trends Reflect Political Migration Patterns
In last year’s election, Washington state voters shifted toward Donald Trump less than in any other state. A significant factor behind this trend could be political migration—who’s moving in, and who’s moving out.
Two days after the general election, an ad began airing on Seattle’s conservative talk radio station, KVI. It featured Kirby Wilbur, a former host on the network and former Washington State Republican Party leader.
“If you think taxes and crime and homelessness are outta control, just wait ‘til Governor Ferguson takes office,” Wilbur said. “Maybe it’s time to think about moving to a state where schools aren’t pushing a radical agenda, bad guys are put in jail, and your values are shared and respected.”
Conservative Migration to Red States
Wilbur, a long-time Washingtonian, moved to Texas during the pandemic. Now a real estate agent and self-described “refugee resettlement specialist,” he helps Republicans leave Washington for red states. “The ugliness that was prominent in Seattle and Washington politics isn’t here,” he said of his Dallas suburb.
This trend aligns with a broader pattern: Republicans moving to Republican states, and Democrats moving to Democratic states. Analysis by Haystaq DNA, a consulting firm, found migration was a key driver of political polarization in the U.S. since 2007. Washington saw a 1.4% net gain in Democratic voters, while neighboring Idaho experienced a 2.7% net gain in Republicans, making Idaho the most “red-shifted” state.
Democrats Moving Into Washington
Conversely, Washington continues to attract Democrats like Emily Rath, a romance author who moved from Florida to Bainbridge Island. Rath, disillusioned by Florida’s political climate and “anti-woke” measures under Gov. Ron DeSantis, sought a more inclusive environment for her family.
Rath, who writes popular hockey romance novels, chose Washington for its progressive stance on education and civil rights. She said the state’s resistance to Trump-era policies, particularly by leaders like Bob Ferguson, inspired her move.
“Washington felt like a place where there’s more hope,” Rath explained
Reference news : Democrats pour into Washington state as Republicans leave, analysis shows
