Daniels, Frost exit California amid shifting migration trend

By Sara Beth Williams–
Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost’s decision to leave California reflects a shifting trend among residents and public figures alike who are seeking new opportunities outside the Golden State.

During her final community meeting in November, Frost announced that she and her husband bought a riverfront property in Arkansas, saying she was “really excited.” Frost, who was first elected as a Citrus Heights councilwoman in 2012 and later won election in 2016 as county supervisor, had previously announced her plans to forgo seeking reelection as early as the fall of 2023, according to CapRadio, a Sacramento NPR station.

In December, Frost was reserved in sharing her reasons for moving and told The Sentinel she was “not ready yet” to fully share her answer. She did say she was moving to a state “where they raise everything but taxes,” and said she looked forward to “working the land and getting closer to God.” She also said she would miss the people of her district most, calling them her “inspiration.”

Frost was born and raised in California, growing up in Orangevale until age 9, before moving to Citrus Heights with her parents in 1963. She also lived in Folsom for 20 years. In December of this year, she sold her home in Citrus Heights, which was the home she grew up in.

Her exit not only marks the end of her tenure in local government but also raises questions about the broader implications of California’s ongoing population outflow. In 2020 and 2021, the Golden State lost 1 percent of its population, although that trend has shifted since the pandemic.

Frost, who sparked some controversy with dissenting votes on major state and local issues, joins others citing concerns about rising costs, unaffordable housing, and the shifting political and religious landscapes as factors influencing their decision to relocate.

Former mayor and longtime Citrus Heights City Councilmember Bret Daniels announced several months ahead of Frost that he would be moving out of state with his family. Daniels, a veteran of the United States Air Force and former Sheriff’s Deputy, was known for his outspoken support for law enforcement and conservative values. In June, Daniels said he and his family chose to move to Kentucky because they wanted to raise their daughter in a “more Christian-based culture.”

“We are tired of an overbearing government system that is primarily focused on the redistribution of wealth and coddles criminals,” Daniels said in June. Later, Daniels told CBS Sacramento that California has an “evilness” in the legislature. He has also been critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In a blog post aptly titled “Goodbye California,” Sacramento residential appraiser and housing analyst Ryan Lundquist says 690,127 people moved out of California in 2023, citing statistics from the American Community Survey and U.S. Census Bureau.

According to the Census Bureau, almost 94,000 of those 690,000 leaving California moved to Texas. Arizona experienced the second largest migration from California, with 54,000. Kentucky, where Daniels and his family relocated, reported an influx of about 5,800 people moving from California, while Arkansas reported 6,300 migrants from California in 2023.

However, data also show people are moving to California from other states, with almost 39,000 people moving from Texas to California in 2023, and 35,000 people moving from Arizona to California. In 2023 though, there were still more people leaving than coming.

Another study from The San Francisco Chronicle based on IRS data instead of US Census Bureau data, reported that 132,000 people moved out of Sacramento County between 2020 and 2022, while 112,000 people moved into Sacramento County. The majority moved to other counties in California but a handful moved out of state as well, with Nevada gaining 2,066 just from Sacramento County.

“There isn’t just one reason why people are leaving California, but some of the usual suspects include retirement, climate change, looking for a different lifestyle, economics, politics, job change, cashing out, etc.,” Lundquist said, adding that he’s not seeing or hearing nearly as many stories of residents moving or planning to move out of state compared to 2021. In fact, in 2021, over 100,000 people moved out of California to Texas.

One of the reasons for less migration, according to Lundquist, is due to less opportunities for remote work. In 2021, the percentage of those 16 and older who reported working from home jumped to 17.9 percent, compared to 5.7 percent in 2019. The percentage of remote workers fell to 13.8 percent in 2023.

“People do actually move to California,” Lundquist said. “In fact, the latest stats show 422,075 people moved to the state in 2023.”

One of those moving to California was Porsche Middleton, who was first elected to the Citrus Heights City Council in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Middleton said she grew up in a military family that moved around a lot. Prior to moving to Citrus Heights a decade ago, Middleton told The Sentinel her family also lived in Alabama, Reno, Nevada and Roseville, California. Middleton grew up in Kentucky and attended and received a bachelor’s from the University of Louisville according to her online bio.

While challenges such as high costs, shifting policies, and changing lifestyles fueled a migration out of the Golden State, the exodus is slowing. According to local news reports, the state’s population grew by 0.6 percent between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024. In comparison, the population grew by just 0.1 percent between July 2022 and July 2023.