A recent article by the far-left outlet NPR highlights a growing trend of liberal Texans fleeing the Lone Star State for New Mexico — a move applauded by progressive politicians and activists hoping to transform the rural, resource-rich state into a safe haven for far-left policies.
According to NPR, over 34,000 Texans relocated to New Mexico between 2022 and 2023, more than from any other state. Many cited Texas’ conservative laws protecting unborn life, religious freedom, and children from radical gender ideology as reasons for their departure. The report framed these policies as “oppressive,” while praising New Mexico’s left-wing agenda.
Featured prominently in the piece were Nancy and Kent Fuka, self-described former proud Texans who now live in Santa Fe. They told NPR that the state’s “emphasis of fundamental religion” made Texas unlivable for them. “You couldn’t pay us enough to move back to Texas,” Kent said.
Another couple profiled, software developer Donovan Kolby and his partner Stephanie Bonzek, echoed similar sentiments. Bonzek, a family nurse practitioner, told NPR she was moved to tears by New Mexico’s progressive policies, calling it a state that “keeps trying to do the right thing.”
The article lauded far-left lame duck Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for actively recruiting left-wing transplants. Grisham has aggressively positioned the state as a “refuge” for abortion seekers, families with gender-confused children, and doctors wanting to escape red-state medical regulations. She has allocated at least $20 million in taxpayer dollars to build two abortion facilities, including one in Las Cruces, near the Texas border.
Grisham also advertised in Texas cities to recruit OB-GYNs, tweeting “This ain’t Texas.” Despite the marketing push, the article admitted only a few doctors have taken the offer, citing high malpractice insurance costs in New Mexico.
NPR portrayed the country’s political “sorting”—conservatives to Texas, liberals to New Mexico—as a natural outcome of polarization. However, it downplayed the concerns of longtime New Mexico residents, including those who say the influx is contributing to skyrocketing housing costs and political tension.
Democrat State Sen. Moe Maestas told NPR that many of the newcomers are “more progressive than the average Democrat” in New Mexico and warned that there is friction between local Hispanic Democrats and white liberals from out of state.
NPR also quoted residents protesting in front of the New Mexico Capitol against Donald Trump and Republican policies. One activist, Carol Norris, summed up the left’s view of the migration by declaring, “Don’t let them Texas our New Mexico, dammit.”
Despite the cheerleading from NPR and the progressive establishment, New Mexico’s transformation is far from settled. Trump has made gains in recent elections, and parts of the state remain solidly conservative, especially in the oil-producing southeast. In 2024, the president narrowly lost the state by a mere five points after previously losing the Land of Enchantment by nearly 11 points.
As national media outlets continue to celebrate the leftward drift of New Mexico, conservatives warn the state could become yet another example of what happens when progressive ideology replaces traditional values.
Great news for this Texan. See ya’….buh-bye. Send all your conservatives over here to Texas (no neo-cons, please…they are worse than liberals).
Then the next step will be to declare Texas an independent republic once more.
Yep, conservative here! Moved my family to Texas and we love it!
Real Texans are conservative.
As a sixth generation native Texan, thank you. These liberal “Texans” are not authentic TEXANS but corrupt brainwashed useful idiot fools and tools indistinguishable from the rest of their fellow herd-members.
Great, more marxists moving here as if we need more. We already have our quota.
Texas- cattle, oil, and masculinity. Nor liberal values.
Ah…Mr. Hoylen…if only it were so.
I predict that in less than two decades, Texas will look like California or New Mexico. I’ll not be here to see that but I’d like to be proven wrong.
Very true. Liberalism is like a virus..it just duplicates and their activists never give up.
NM can’t get more “progressive” (regressive) than it already is so Texans moving to Santa Fe isn’t going to matter one bit, unless they try to “colonize” SENM which is red. But the “progressive” types don’t want to live in farming, ranching, oil & gas country w/ we smelly Walmart shoppers. As for recruiting healthcare providers, NM has some of the most deeply punitive malpractice policies & corrupt jurors who award insane millions in the whole country so I’m guessing that aspect of the plan ain’t going well either.
Well this sucks
They don’t know how good they have it in Texas.
There are a lot of Rinos in Texas controlling state gov’t. Listen to the following – Texas governor and business community very pro open borders, free in-state tuition for illegals.
https://rumble.com/v6tn1oh-russo-5202025-battleground.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp
I agree with Cindi. More Libs in Santa Fe? Oh no. 99% of the newcomers will move to Bernalillo, Santa Fe or Los Alamos counties.
Some might mistakenly move to Dona Ana where I live but we are already blue in every electable position. Better to keep Texas red with all of their electoral votes. And ditto to the malpractice policies and jurors (and some judges) comment.
Jon, we love Cruces & visit pretty regularly but it IS too bad they’ve followed the north instead of the south, esp being so close to TX. Not that El Paso is conservative (but we like it there too).
NPR- all hat, no cattle.
My father was born in Ft Davis, if New Mexico gets worse and Texas gets reder we might just move there.
Ft. Davis is beautiful. As you know, Marfa, thirty miles from there, has become sort of a new-age liberal enclave, even if it is ensconced in a pretty conservative area. Also, as you probably know, our Hispanic brethren are pretty easy prey to the liberal siren-song.
Davis County is solid Republican while Presidio County (Marfa) is solid Democrat.
Of course, the Democrat/Republican phony paradigm is not always a good proxy for determining conservatism.
“Head ’em up, move ’em out.” Texans are only too happy to rid the state of these woke libs.
A liberal Texan is an oxymoron.
NPR: National Palestinian Radio
It cannot get much worse here. Liberals destroying the country (or at least trying to). Do we want to become like Europe or worse yet China…truly sad.
And New Mexico Republicans are fleeing to Texas.
Yep, we did. Felt like refugees when we first got here. Moved to a solid red district and its been very nice.
God have mercy on us all. God is still in control. And all the evil of this world are basically everywhere. The conservatives and godly people need to stand strong and stand against these ungodly people who continue to come to the last place in everything NM.
We have many conservatives in NM but most are too stupid to vote how they feel. We are last in schools, 3rd last how we responsibly spend tax dollars, we are an abortion destination, and if you look up any measurable success of government NM is last or at least with in the last 3. Yes many of us are holding on to see NM’s started pulling their heads out of their a__es. Conservatives can take control. And as far as Texans moving to Santa Fe, well Santa Fe is where we send our fruits. When we visit Santa Fe we have learned to walk backwards out of the door, there is NO ONE in Santa Fe that is trustworthy.
I am a born and raised Texan and a real Conservative. I landed in New Mexico following the drilling rigs. I deplore the liberals moving into New Mexico but happy to see the liberals leave Texas. They should go to Colorado instead of New Mexico. That way all the progressive liberal socialist would be together.
Yet another reason to defund NPR.
No one in there right mind would read that article and consider it “unbiased”, it’s filled with far-left rhetoric.
Sounds like a wild claim without any foundation…. just like most liberal media stories.
DEFUND NPR!!!!