As Louisiana heads into fall’s gubernatorial race, candidates are crisscrossing the state, pitching plans to tackle numerous crises: Dysfunctional insurance market, rising costs of living, and the ever-more dangerous hurricanes and crime.
Many voters have already cast ballots of a different sort. Thousands are leaving the state for better lives and opportunities elsewhere, in an immigration that's been an issue for decades.
It’s a basic kind of referendum that Louisiana is losing. It's a vicious cycle making the economy harder to grow the economy, which fuels the exodus.
Louisiana has lagged other states, many of which once faced similar challenges. Louisiana has not kept pace.
The numbers are stark. Since 2010, Florida, Tennessee and South and North Carolina have all posted double-digit population growth. Florida has grown by nearly 20%.
Louisiana, with 4.5M+ residents, has only grown by 1.25%.
Alabama and Arkansas have more than tripled Louisiana; and even Mississippi has grown faster.
The problem isn’t new. (NOLA.com 09/21/23) People are fleeing Louisiana as nearby states surge | Local Politics | nola.com
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