"This past year has seen a rapid migration from densely populated urban areas to exurban and rural communities. Certainly, COVID has much to do with this, but the trend is not temporary. Fair warning to those greeting the newcomers: Be prepared to fight to protect your current way of life.
When you serve as Executive Director for a national Republican political organization, part of the cost of admission is a lot of travel. Spending all this time on the road only serves to deepen my appreciation for what a great country this is. At the same time, you get a first-hand view of its changing landscape.
Politico recently reported that, according to Census data, 9 of the fastest growing districts are represented in Congress by a Republican. Six of these are in Texas, two in Florida, and one each in South Carolina and Utah. The short-term impact would pretty obviously seem to be this is good news for Republicans, especially when it comes to drawing new maps for legislative districts. What it means long-term, however, is far less clear, at least to me.
When the population in the metro area of Atlanta exploded in final years of the last century, every single suburban district was represented by a Republican in the House of Representatives. Now the seat once represented by John Linder, who headed the National Republican Congressional Committee, as well as that of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, both sent Democrats to buttress Nancy Pelosi’s narrow majority.
The new arrivals moved to escape high taxes, crowded schools, traffic congestion, and a myriad of government policies that stifle economic growth and prosperity. They moved with the attitude their new community would provide opportunity and reward their individual efforts. They arrive excited about all the things that are different here than where they previously lived. Then, in a short amount of time, they feel the need to improve things by importing various items from the location they supposedly left behind. Before too long, they feel empowered to essentially insist on putting these things into place. From where I sit, they just cannot leave well enough alone."
