Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly stirred both amusement and debate on the eve of Election Day with a quip about imposing “tariffs” on New Yorkers moving to Texas, underscoring his state’s growing frustration over migration from deep-blue cities and his broader critique of liberal governance.
“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” Abbott posted on the social media platform X. The comment drew quick attention, both for its humor and for the underlying tension between conservative states like Texas and the Democratic strongholds many of their new residents are leaving behind.
Abbott’s office did not respond to requests for clarification on how such a policy might work. While the U.S. Constitution reserves the power to impose tariffs for the federal government, Abbott’s post appeared to be less a policy proposal than a pointed political statement—one aimed at highlighting what many Texas conservatives see as the consequences of failed Democratic leadership in cities like New York.
The remark came as national attention turned to New York City’s mayoral race, a contest that has unexpectedly captured interest beyond the state’s borders. The race pits Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman, against independent candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailing in the polls.
According to a late-October Quinnipiac University survey, Mamdani led with 43 percent, followed by Cuomo with 33 percent and Sliwa with 14 percent.
President Donald J. Trump, weighing in from his Truth Social platform, surprised many by endorsing Cuomo, the embattled former governor who resigned in 2021 amid scandal. Trump’s statement emphasized pragmatism over party loyalty. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” he wrote. “You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, [Zohran] Mamdani is not!”
Trump’s endorsement reflected his ongoing efforts to shape politics beyond the Republican Party, as well as his willingness to back figures he sees as capable of countering the far-left’s influence in major cities. Cuomo, though a lifelong Democrat, has positioned himself as a critic of the progressive movement that has dominated New York politics in recent years.
Abbott’s post, meanwhile, tapped into a sentiment widely shared among conservatives in Texas, where officials have repeatedly warned that the state’s booming population growth could eventually alter its political landscape. With tens of thousands of newcomers arriving from California, New York, and Illinois each year, many Republicans have expressed concern that these migrants may bring with them the same policies that prompted their departures.
For Abbott, whose administration has often clashed with the Biden White House over border security, energy policy, and state autonomy, the comment reflected his trademark mix of humor and political messaging. By framing his frustration as a “tariff” on New Yorkers, he highlighted Texas’s self-confidence—and its skepticism toward the political culture of the coastal left.
While no such tariff could ever be enacted, Abbott’s jab served as a reminder that, in the nation’s culture wars, Texas remains both a destination and a statement.
[READ MORE: Trump Responds To Election Result]
