The last time a Republican candidate for President carried the State of New York?

1984.

The last time New York elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate? 1992.

The last time New York elected a Republican Governor? 2002, against a hapless and underfunded Democrat who couldn’t shoot straight.

In 2010, the year a red tide swept the nation and elected the largest Republican majority in Congress since the 1940’s, all five statewide Republican candidates went down to defeat in New York, including one who had the endorsement of the New York Times.

Those who once voted for Republicans in New York have been the state’s principal export in recent times. According to a recent CNSNEWS report, during the last 10 years 3.4 million people left New York. And they took with them $46 billion in income that New York’s tax man can no longer reach. During the same period, 2.1 million moved in, largely those attracted by the social safety net New York offers—wards of the state that have an interest in perpetuating a ruling class that promises to tax more, spend more and borrow more to support their safety net.

New York spends a billion dollars a week on Medicaid, more than California and Texas combined. More than 5 million are dependent on the taxpayers for their health care, food and shelter, and now that they live in New York, are in no way interested in those who might suggest that New York trim its safety net or reduce what is the nation’s second highest state and local tax burden.

According to a May 20 article in the New York Times, in 2009 “large percentages of New Yorkers earned high incomes and low incomes, leaving a smaller middle class than in the nation as a whole.” Duh. The very rich can afford to stay. The poor don’t want to leave. Why would they?

The middle class taxpayers have grown weary of paying the bill and they are leaving. With them go the Republican votes that once made a Republican victory possible in New York.

And the lesson in this for those running for public office? If you want to win, run in a state or jurisdiction where you can.

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