5.4 Million People Have Migrated To Pro-Trump Counties Since 2020

The 'Great Divorce' continues as blue counties lose population even in states with big gains.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new report from Wirepoints shows that over 5.4 million people have migrated to counties that voted for former President Trump in the 2020 election, while blue counties have seen population declines even in states with overall gains. The data highlights the growing political and demographic divide across the country.

Why it matters

The 'Great Divorce' between red and blue America continues, with people voting with their feet and moving to counties that align with their political leanings. This has significant implications for the future of the country's political landscape and the ability of local governments to address pressing issues.

The details

The report found that of the 50 counties with the biggest net gain in population, all but four voted for Trump in 2020. Meanwhile, even blue counties in states that saw overall population increases lost residents. Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago, was the second biggest loser.

  • The data covers migration patterns since the 2020 presidential election.

The players

Wirepoints

An Illinois policy research organization that published the report on migration patterns.

Mark Glennon

The founder of Wirepoints and an expert on Illinois' fiscal challenges.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Chicago's political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city's thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension.”

— Mark Glennon, Founder, Wirepoints

The takeaway

The migration patterns highlighted in this report demonstrate the deepening political and cultural divide in the United States, with people increasingly sorting themselves into communities that align with their ideological leanings. This has significant implications for the future of the country's politics and governance.