In an interview last week with Sean Hannity, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat from California, claimed that the idea of a California exodus is a myth. The data, however, tells a very different story.

Let’s begin with the basics. Between April 2020 to July 2022, California lost more than 500,000 residents. When considering net migration, more than 700,000 people left California during this period.

Newsom said that Mississippi and Louisiana, which have lost more people than California per capita, are not as prosperous. This suggests all is well in the Golden State. Comparing these numbers with other states doesn’t make things any better for California.

California lost almost 350,000 residents in 2022. California still ranks in the bottom 10 when viewed as a percentage of the state’s total population.

As Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino noted, it’s important to remember that Newsom’s states were never known for their ability to attract new people. The fact that they are on this list is not surprising. California was once America’s most desired location, epicenter of American Dream. These numbers reflect a change in perception and reality in California over the last few years.

It is interesting to compare graphs of California’s population growth over time with that of Florida. Florida’s population, on the other hand, has steadily increased, despite a concave curve and slowing growth in California. These are long-term patterns.

Newsom refuted Hannity by saying “There have been three independent studies… You should look them up, including a new one from UCLA,” supporting his claim that these numbers are “anomalous.”

California’s population declines are not a recent phenomenon. They are real, and they’re quite severe.

As for the studies themselves, I tried to look into them. Newsom did not cite anything beyond saying that there were studies. Newsom’s claim was supported by two different studies. California Policy Lab and scholars from UC Berkeley and Stanford University are both involved in the second study.

What can we make of these studies that found “no evidence” of an exodus and “residents move out of the state but not in unusual numbers”? We can begin by noting that both studies are from 2021, i.e. March and July. It is notable that the exodus was still only a year old. Now that we have two years of data to look at, it shows the exodus has continued apace. Literally hundreds of thousands are leaving every year.

There is also no evidence that a “brand-new” UCLA study found the findings Newsom claimed. He should make it public if there is one. Recent comments by UCLA scholars on this topic suggest exactly the opposite. In February, UCLA’s Center for Neighborhood Knowledge director acknowledged that there was an exodus. He said that “California has now the highest housing burden – that is, the percentage of income that goes to paying for housing” across the country. In April, he stated that the decline in population was “largely due to lower immigration, fewer babies and pandemics.” However, when it comes to actual people leaving the state, it’s likely because of the living conditions.

California has also been losing residents since a long time, according to other studies. A study released earlier this month by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce showed that businesses were also leaving. The author stated, “The Golden State’s luster seems to have been tarnished over the past few years.”

Data are clear: There is no doubt that there is a mass exodus out of California. Newsom is a gifted orator but he’s a liar when it comes down to the truth.