Florida is growing unaffordable. Do politicians notice?

[Zorro]

Pocketbook concerns will shape the 2026 elections and beyond.

I write a lot about politics. It’s important, but much of it bores me, which makes off-election years great, because you can explore other things. But one story you will hear more about as we move closer to 2026 is how Florida’s affordability crisis will shape upcoming elections.

That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Floridians have complained about higher costs for housing, insurance, utilities and other everyday basics for years. They’ve seen inaction from Tallahassee, obstruction from Washington and tax and regulatory policy massaged over time to favor big business, all the while promising that relief for consumers is around the corner.

But it takes time for public dissent to bubble into action. Voters get the chance to do something about it at the polls only every two years. That’s what makes 2026 an election to watch as a bellwether in Florida politics. Pocketbook issues could bring real substance to the governor’s race and down-ballot elections. They’ll play an outsized role in local elections across Florida for several years, too.

Let’s look first at a big indicator statewide: Florida’s popularity has waned. Although Florida remains one of the top states for in-migration, a record number of people left the state in 2023. An estimated 637,000 people moved to Florida that year from other states, while 511,000 moved out. That amounted to a 50% decrease in net migration from the previous year, the Florida Chamber of Commerce reported in December, and the first major decline in a decade.

More tellingly, Florida’s migratory growth has become more reliant on older transplants, while younger Floridians are leaving. People in their 20s, especially, “are leaving in significant numbers,” the Chamber found, citing factors including the high cost of housing and limited job opportunities for young professionals. “Florida seemingly struggles to retain its graduates,” the Chamber noted, citing a disconnect between our education system and workforce “that could impact the state’s long-term growth and economic stability.”

https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2025/07/10/florida-is-growing-unaffordable-do-politicians-notice-column/