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A governor is threatening a “100% tariff” on people who move to his state from New York. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made the bizarre threat on X (formerly Twitter) Monday, the night before Election Day. He appeared to be specifically focusing on the New York City mayoral election between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. “After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” Abbott, a Republican, tweeted. It’s unclear how such a tariff could even be imposed or why Abbott would punish people who want to live in Texas. According to the New York Post, Mamdani’s “tax the rich” platform has raised concerns wealthy residents may flee NYC if he wins the election. A recent survey published by the Daily Mail claimed as many as 765,000 New Yorkers would move away if Mamdani becomes mayor, but it’s unclear how many, if any, would choose the Lone Star State for their new home. Scott Singer, the Republican mayor of Boca Raton, Florida, told the Daily Mail that he would welcome New Yorkers unlike his GOP counterpart. “I’ve been working with business leaders who are already trying to anticipate this move by planning for an exodus to Boca Raton. I’ve seen strong enthusiasm,” Singer said. Abbott’s comments came shortly after President Donald Trump reluctantly endorsed Cuomo for mayor. Cuomo, a lifelong Democrat, is running as an independent against Sliwa and Mamdani, who identifies as a Democratic socialist. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. The president urged Republicans to support Cuomo, claiming votes for Sliwa would only help Mamdani. Trump also said Mamdani would mean “Total Economic and Social Disaster” for New York City and has threatened to withhold federal funds based on the outcome of the election. “It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!” Trump said. “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.”
