Prairie State Wire

Wirepoints is alleging deception on behalf of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the state’s Democrats regarding outmigration in the state. 

Many sources have noted Illinois is undergoing one of the largest outmigrations of any state. Wirepoints reported that “The latest data debunks many out-migration myths that Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others promote.”

“Gov. J.B. Pritzker continuously denies Illinois is losing population, but sources from U-Haul to the IRS to the US Census Bureau all keep pointing in the same direction – people are leaving Illinois for other states in record numbers,” Wirepoints continued. “More than 146,000 net Illinoisans left for other states in 2021, according to state-to-state migration data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau. And now, thanks to that data, we now know where they moved to." 

Despite Pritzker's denial, multiple sources including U-Haul, the IRS, and the U.S. Census Bureau consistently indicate that Illinois is experiencing a significant population decline as people leave the state. The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that over 146,000 net residents left Illinois for other states in 2021. The data dispels several myths propagated by the governor and others. Firstly, Illinois experienced a net out-migration of 150,000 residents to 40 different states, while only gaining a net influx from nine states. Secondly, Illinoisans are not solely moving to retirement destinations; the top destinations for relocation were neighboring states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Lastly, while most neighboring states saw overall population gains, Illinois suffered substantial losses in comparison. The data reflects a trend where individuals are choosing better-managed, more affordable areas over high-cost, government-centric cities and states, indicating a demographic shift towards states prioritizing affordability and less intrusive government.

According to the latest IRS migration data analyzed by Wirepoints, New York, California, and Illinois remain the biggest losers of residents and their wealth to other states, while Florida and Texas continue to be the major winners. In 2020, Florida gained the most net individuals (256,000) and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) ($39 billion), followed by Texas with a gain of 175,000 people and $10.9 billion in AGI. On the other hand, California lost the most individuals (332,000) and $29.1 billion in income, while New York lost a net of 262,000 people and $24.5 billion. The data indicates that Americans are choosing to move to areas with better-managed governance, lower costs of living, and less intrusive regulations, highlighting the importance of states prioritizing affordable and less burdensome governments.

Pritzker refuses to accept the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) migration data that shows Illinois losing residents and their wealth, according to Wirepoints. Despite the IRS report being titled "U.S. Population Migration Data," Pritzker's office claims it is not migration data. Wirepoints' analysis of the IRS data reveals that Illinois lost a net of 105,000 residents and nearly $11 billion in taxable income. The governor attempted to discredit the report by highlighting the IRS's own caveats, but the IRS itself considers its migration reports an important source of information. Pritzker's denial of Illinois' population losses is inconsistent with the state's decline as indicated by the U.S. Census Bureau's data, which shows a shrinking population since 2020.