Whitmer’s Policies Forcing Michiganders to Leave in Droves
Michiganders Leaving in Droves Due to Whitmer's Stifling Policies and Taxes
Michigan’s Population Decline: The Numbers
Net domestic migration losses: In 2023, Michigan lost over 20,000 more residents to other U.S. states than it gained—a dramatic increase from a loss of ~9,900 in 2022 (bridgemi.com).
Major destinations: Florida remains the top choice for departing Michiganders, followed by Ohio, Texas, Arizona, and Indiana (bridgemi.com).
Stagnant overall growth: From 2019–2023, Michigan's population grew by a mere 1%, compared to Texas at 6.3% and Colorado at 5.1% (axios.com).
Comparing to Sunbelt Boomers
Many Midwestern residents are moving to states like Florida and Texas, drawn by lower taxes, warmer climates, expanding job markets, and less regulation (fox2detroit.com).
Sunbelt states are capturing the lion’s share of new residents. In contrast, Michigan and other Cold Belt states continue to lose traction, even as migration trends begin shifting back toward northern states (businessinsider.com).
Whitmer’s Policy Package: A Closer Look
Governor Whitmer has pursued ambitious policies—some applauded, others criticized—as she juggles public health, infrastructure, and economic reforms. But critics argue parts of her agenda may be driving residents away:
Tax & Regulatory Burden
High income and business taxes, along with environmental and labor regulations, are perceived as less competitive than neighboring states. According to some analysts, "policies that attract populations to other states are opposed by Whitmer" (michigancapitolconfidential.com).
Education and Labor Legislation
The “You Can in Michigan” campaign directly urges teachers to relocate from states like Florida or Texas, while simultaneously painting those states’ policies as burdensome—a tone that some see as confrontational rather than constructive (apnews.com).
COVID-era Restrictions
Stringent lockdowns, school closures, and mandates in 2020–2021 drew criticism for being “heavy-handed,” pushing some families and remote workers toward more permissive states.
Rising Cost of Living & Infrastructure Policy
Whitmer’s “road-funding cliff” rhetoric and infrastructure spending, while aimed at improving quality of life, have been met with mixed reactions due to concerns over gas taxes, tolling, and long-term cost implications .
Growing Michigan Together Council
A bipartisan advisory group convened in mid-2023, but a conservative think tank criticized it for failing to propose pro-growth, low-regulation reforms—suggesting it sidestepped key competitive policy levers (mackinac.org).
Competing States Are Surging
Florida: Boasts the fastest population growth among U.S. states in 2022–2023 thanks to no income tax, retiree-friendly climate, and large net migration gains (over 600K newcomers in 2023 alone) (en.wikipedia.org).
Texas & Arizona: Reap steady inflows from high-cost states like California and New York, touting lower taxes and pro-business environments (en.wikipedia.org).
North Carolina & Tennessee: Highlighted as top-tier inbound states through Atlas Van Lines, offering mix of affordability and economic opportunity (atlasvanlines.com).
Who’s Moving & Why This Matters to You
Families & retirees: Lower cost of living and taxes are pulling baby boomers and Gen-Xers.
Professionals & remote workers: Seeking affordable housing and better economic climates.
Students & young adults: In search of strong job markets and vibrant cultural environments.
If you're considering a move—whether staying in Michigan, relocating within, or heading out of state—you’ll want to weigh tax rates, cost of living, job prospects, public services, and lifestyle factors across various states.
What Whitmer Is Doing to Stem the Tide
Michigan Growth Office: Launched in mid-2024 to roll out the Council’s blueprint (newsfromthestates.com).
$79M talent-marketing campaign: Targeted ads (“You Can in Michigan”) designed to lure young professionals and out-of-state talent (apnews.com).
Incentives for tech and infrastructure investments: Securing semiconductor plants and F-15EX jets to support job creation (ourmidland.com).
Yet, Michigan still ranks 49th in population growth nationwide (apnews.com)—suggesting that policy inertia, or missed opportunities, could be delaying stronger gains.
Final Take
“Whitmer’s Policies Forcing Michiganders to Leave in Droves”—the data show a clear net outflow of residents, particularly to Sunbelt and lower-tax states.
To reverse this trend, Michigan needs bold reforms that reduce regulatory burdens, incentivize business development, and restore affordability—while leveraging assets like universities, Great Lakes access, and infrastructure improvements.
For anyone considering a move, the decision boils down to a few key questions:
Are you seeking lower taxes and cost of living?
How important is climate and outdoor recreation?
Do you value strong public services like education and transit?
Will state-level policies impact your lifestyle and job flexibility?
Michigan still has much to offer, but its leadership must balance ambitious policy goals with competitive fundamentals—otherwise, the outmigration may keep rolling.
