In discussions about states hemorrhaging residents due to their far-left politics, New York and California tend to top the list due to their large populations.
But there’s one state that gives all others a run for their money when it comes to radical policies that are driving even dyed-in-the-wool leftists to seek safety in a red state.
KIRO reported on the trend, citing a uniquely credible source:
His whole brand, for years, was: I’m rich, and I’m telling you the rich need to pay more.
ADVERTISEMENTHe was the billionaire giving cover to the progressive agenda. The architect.
And this is what he told GeekWire about Washington’s new income tax: “Virtually every wealthy friend I have has either left or is planning to. It’s a catastrophe.”
The man who spent years telling the wealthy they needed to pay more is now watching them leave instead.
When Nick Hanauer calls it a catastrophe, pay attention.
His wealthy friends moving is one thing. But now one of our most prominent employers has reached a similar conclusion.
Starbucks. Born here. Grew up here. Became a global brand with a Seattle address.
Last November, the day after she was declared the winner in a tight race for mayor, Katie Wilson publicly called for a boycott of Starbucks. That was her first move after declaring victory. Not a policy announcement. Not a vision for the city. A boycott call against a fast food joint that offers health care, paid vacation, and free college tuition for employees and their family members.
Have these developments caused Wilson to reconsider her eat-the-rich policies? Quite the opposite.
The Seattle mayor’s derisive response to an ongoing exodus of wealthy Washingtonians received some social media scrutiny:
INSANE. Seattle's Socialist Mayor responds to exodus of wealth from Washington state by saying "BYE" … then laughing. We're doomed. pic.twitter.com/gP8CbPkqEl
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) April 29, 2026
Bold strategy: celebrate capital leaving, then wonder where jobs went.
— Samduriq (@Samduriq) April 29, 2026
News from Seattle Washington…
The socialist mayor thinks it's funny that so much wealth has left her city. Will Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, etc. also be leaving soon ⁉️ 🤔 😔 https://t.co/GSFQFgznAv
— Frederick of Follywood 🇺🇸 (@TimmSchroeder2) April 29, 2026
Here’s more on Starbucks’ reaction from Moneywise:
Just five months after Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson publicly urged a boycott of Starbucks at a workers rally (2) — telling the crowd, “I am not buying Starbucks, and you should not, too” — the company announced it will invest $100 million in a new Southeast headquarters in Nashville, bringing up to 2,000 jobs with it (3).
The company, however, is framing the move as a strategic expansion. In a statement, chief partner officer Sara Kelly said the move is driven by practical advantages.
“Our new office in Nashville reflects three key advantages: proximity to key suppliers; access to a deep and growing talent pool in the region, notably in technology; and alignment with where we expect future coffeehouse growth,” she wrote. (4)
As Starbucks expands into Nashville, questions are already surfacing for the roughly 3,000 corporate employees based in Seattle’s SoDo headquarters. (5)
The company said it would offer relocation opportunities to some Seattle staff, but Tuesday’s announcement provided few details beyond plans to build a workforce of up to 2,000 in Nashville and potentially shift additional “teams and roles” over time.
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And here’s some additional commentary on the topic:
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