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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he would "impose a 100 percent tariff" on New Yorkers moving to Texas.
“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” the Republican wrote on X on Monday night.
Abbott’s post came on the eve of New York City’s mayoral election, in which Democrat Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner. He is facing former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo—who is running as an independent after Mamdani emerged victorious in the Democratic primary in June—and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
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Newsweek has contacted Abbott's office for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.
Read more: Uncommon Knowledge: The Working Class Didn't Win it for Zohran Mamdani
Why It Matters
Tariffs are taxes on goods, not people, and U.S. states are not permitted to impose tariffs on imports from other states, let alone people. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has recognized that the constitutional right to travel includes the right to enter and leave another state freely and to become a permanent resident of another state.
Abbott's comment appears to tap into concerns that a wave of New Yorkers who don’t support Mamdani could flee to Texas if he is elected mayor. It also matches President Donald Trump's rhetoric aimed at Mamdani.
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What To Know
Mamdani has campaign on affordability, promising to raise taxes on the richest New Yorkers and use the money to make city buses free and provide free, universal child care. He has also promised to freeze rent for people living in about 1 million rent-regulated apartments.
He has faced attacks from conservatives throughout the campaign. President Donald Trump has called Mamdani a “communist” and suggested federal funding cuts to the city if he is elected. He would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected.
On social media, some slammed Abbott, saying his proposal was "illegal" and unconstitutional. Others welcomed the move, while some suggested that Abbott was joking.
What People Are Saying
New York Governor Kathy Hochul's press office wrote in response to Abbott's post on X: "We're good."
Political commentator Ed Krassenstein wrote on X: "This is illegal. MAGA has become the party of Violating the Constitution."
Valentina Gomez, a Republican congressional candidate in Texas, wrote on X: "Greg, focus on lowering property taxes first. Hardworking people are losing their homes because of this."
Popular MAGA influencer Gunther Eagleman wrote on X: "Good! Now abolish property taxes for us that live here."
Ryan Fournier, a co-founder of the Students for Trump group, wrote on X: "Governor Abbott joked that he’d slap a 100% tariff on anyone moving from New York to Texas if Mamdani wins. Funny—but he’s not wrong. Stop fleeing liberal cities just to vote the same way you did there."
What's Next
Voters will pick New York City's next mayor on Tuesday. In-person voting on Election Day ends at 9 p.m. ET.
Update 11/4/25, 4:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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