VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – After New York City elected Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood invited New Yorkers to move to the Sunshine State, as first reported by WKMG in Orlando.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Chitwood said that New York City residents or police officers dissatisfied with the election results are invited “into the welcoming arms of Volusia County.”
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“To all New Yorkers, if you’re looking for a better quality of life, from education, to the outdoors, to the beautiful weather, check out Volusia County,” Chitwood wrote. “We are open for business. Tonight’s election is not the end. It can be the beginning of a new life.”
Mamdani, who claimed victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the mayoral seat on Tuesday, is set to be New York City’s youngest mayor, as well as the city’s most liberal in generations.
He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to the city — and even take it over — if Mamdani won.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also weighed in on the election results on social media.
Floridians — response to the Mamdani election in NYC should be to:
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 5, 2025
DeSantis has taken several jabs at the Big Apple during his governorship, including during a news conference in Winter Haven earlier this year, where he claimed that New Yorkers were fleeing to Florida.
“New York state now, they have millions fewer residents than we do in Florida...” he stated at the time. “We have over 23 million, they have about 19.5 million. And so even with millions more residents, the state of Florida’s budget is less than half of the budget of New York state.”
Since DeSantis first came into office back in 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported the following migration estimates between New York and Florida:
| Year | Migrants from NY to FL | Migrants from FL to NY | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 57,488 | 18,976 | 67% |
| 2021 | 91,758 | 24,444 | 73% |
| 2022 | 91,201 | 21,300 | 77% |
| 2023 | 71,138 | 24,749 | 65% |
| TOTAL | 311,585 | 89,469 | 71% |
Over the past few years, millions of people have moved into Florida, massively boosting its population to over 23 million.
However, this mass migration has also brought on economic challenges to the state, including higher home prices and living costs.