Dave McCormick urges New Yorkers to move to Pennsylvania after Zohran Mamdani’s win

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA: Republican Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick is inviting New Yorkers unhappy with their city’s direction to consider moving to Pennsylvania.

He framed the state as a welcoming alternative for those frustrated by New York’s political changes and sports disappointments.

Dave McCormick welcomes New Yorkers 

In a video posted on X, McCormick directly addressed New York residents who might be rethinking where they live.

He urged those “worried about life" under Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s newly elected mayor, and “tired of the Empire State’s high taxes and losing football teams” to head west to Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania, where America was born,” McCormick said. “We’ve got mountains, winning football teams, world-class universities, and no one will make you feel unwelcome for loving America, loving freedom, and loving your God.”

He added, “Forget about the high taxes, the socialists, the losing football teams. If you’re looking for a change of scenery, all you have to do is head west on I-80. The Keystone State is calling. Come on down.”

McCormick’s reference to football appeared to take aim at New York’s struggling Jets and Giants, who have been underperforming this season. The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday after their fourth loss, leaving both teams near the bottom of the NFL rankings.

Zohran Mamdani’s election sparks migration debate

McCormick highlighted Pennsylvania’s advantages, pointing to its NFL powerhouses—the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers—as symbols of a “winning culture.”

The Eagles recently won Super Bowl LIX and hold a 6-2 record, while the Steelers rank 14th with five wins and four losses.

McCormick also emphasized that Pennsylvania is “leading the AI revolution” and “innovating life sciences,” generating tens of thousands of new jobs across multiple industries.

His remarks come as Mamdani’s victory raises concerns about a potential outflow of residents from New York. The new mayor campaigned on a progressive platform that included a citywide rent freeze, publicly run grocery stores, and higher taxes for the wealthy.

Other states are also positioning themselves to attract relocating New Yorkers. Texas Governor Greg Abbott joked about imposing “100% tariffs” on incoming New Yorkers, while Florida continues to lure Wall Street firms to business hubs such as Boca Raton.

Even a sheriff in Florida’s Volusia County posted an open invitation to NYPD officers unhappy with the election results. Several wealthy supporters of former Governor Andrew Cuomo have also hinted at leaving the city following Mamdani’s win.