Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slammed Washington state’s consideration of a new tax on high earners in a series of pointed posts on X to argue that the policy would push top taxpayers out of the state and weaken its economy. His comments come as debate intensifies around Washington Governor Bob Ferguson’s recent endorsement of a so-called “millionaires’ tax,” a proposal that would impose a 9.9% levy on annual income above $1 million.
DeSantis framed the issue as part of a broader national struggle over taxation, governance, and economic competitiveness, casting Washington’s approach as a cautionary example and highlighting Florida’s status as a no-income-tax state, which he says benefits from migration out of high-tax regions.
A Clash Over the Costs of Taxing the Wealthy
At the center of DeSantis’ criticism is his claim that Washington is underestimating the economic consequences of targeting high earners, especially those with the means and mobility to relocate. In one of his first posts on the subject, DeSantis quoted a Seattle Timesop-ed that suggested wealthy residents’ threats to leave the state over the proposed tax are “mostly just talk.”
DeSantis pushed back hard.
Washington has already driven taxpayers out due to bad policies.
Enacting an income tax would be counterproductive — states with no income tax have a major advantage over states that do.
The inevitable result is that some taxpayers will flee, the appetite for spending will… https://t.co/pmwE9g6L7Q
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 28, 2025
He argued that Washington has already alienated residents through “bad policies,” and warned that introducing an income tax would only deepen that trend. “Enacting an income tax would be counterproductive — states with no income tax have a major advantage over states that do,” he wrote, framing the proposal as the beginning of a damaging cycle.
In DeSantis’ view, once a state begins to rely on taxing high earners, the pressures of government spending don’t disappear, meaning lawmakers often widen the scope of who pays. He predicted that Washington could eventually expand the tax beyond millionaires, targeting those with lower incomes and further weakening the state’s economic foundation.
DeSantis Points to Bezos as Exhibit A
To challenge the idea that relocation threats are exaggerated, DeSantis cited one of the most prominent examples of high-earner mobility: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Bezos, widely reported as Washington’s largest taxpayer, relocated to Florida in 2023. DeSantis highlighted the move as proof that the wealthy do not merely talk about leaving, they often do.
Yes, the state of Washington lost its biggest taxpayer — Jeff Bezos — to Florida.
That’s not “just talk.” That relocation alone has had a major impact on the WA state budget. https://t.co/7CpTrsrBLZ
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 28, 2025
“That’s not ‘just talk,’” DeSantis wrote in response to an X user discussing the Seattle Times’ framing of the issue. He added that Bezos’ relocation has had a “major impact” on Washington’s budget.
The fiscal consequences, DeSantis argued, are difficult to ignore: Bezos’ departure reportedly reduced Washington’s capital gains tax revenue by more than $950 million in a single year, illustrating how dependent state budgets can be on a relatively small pool of very high-income taxpayers.
Migration Narratives Fuel DeSantis’ Argument
DeSantis’ critique did not stop at tax policy. He also amplified personal stories and broader cultural grievances, responding to a former Washington resident who said rising homelessness, drug use, and crime played a role in their move to Florida.
You are not alone.
Prior to 2020, migration to FL from Pacific NW was infinitesimal; since 2020, it has been noticeable. https://t.co/8y0lNdTw36
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 28, 2025
“You are not alone,” DeSantis replied. He added that migration from the Pacific Northwest to Florida was “infinitesimal” prior to 2020 but has become “noticeable” since then.
The exchange reinforced a theme DeSantis frequently emphasizes: that residents are leaving progressive, high-cost states not only for lower taxes but also for a different approach to public safety, regulation, and quality-of-life issues. In his telling, Florida’s growth reflects more than climate and cost—it’s a referendum on governance.
Washington’s Case for the Tax
Governor Bob Ferguson, who assumed office earlier in 2025 after serving as the state’s attorney general, has positioned the millionaires’ tax as a response to budget pressure and a step toward tax fairness. Proponents also argue that Washington’s tax structure is historically regressive, relying heavily on sales taxes and other mechanisms that disproportionately affect middle- and lower-income residents. A tax on millionaires, they contend, could rebalance the system without burdening most households.
However, Ferguson’s proposal comes on the heels of the governor signing into law the largest tax increase in state history following the last legislative cycle, claiming at the time the money was needed to close massive budget gaps.
What Ferguson failed to mention was that the budget gaps were caused by Democrats overspending rather than a lack of revenue.
The National Stakes: Red-State Growth vs. Blue-State Priorities
The online clash between DeSantis and Washington officials reflects a larger ideological divide between red and blue states on how to fund government and shape economic opportunity.
DeSantis presented Washington’s proposal as a familiar pattern—one he says has played out in states like California, where high taxes have prompted some departures even while the state retains significant overall wealth. Critics of millionaires’ taxes argue that even small levels of out-migration among top earners can dramatically reduce projected revenues and destabilize budgets.
A Debate That Extends Beyond Washington
While the millionaires’ tax is still under consideration, DeSantis’ public intervention has ensured the issue now has national visibility. His posts are aimed not only at Washington lawmakers, but at voters across the country watching similar proposals emerge in other states.
For DeSantis, the debate is simple: taxing high earners drives them away and ultimately harms the state.
