Louisiana to New York: “If You’re Tired of Socialism, Come South.

Gov. Jeff Landry is turning a moment of political upheaval in America’s largest city into an opportunity for Louisiana.

Days after New York City elected democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor, Landry placed a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal urging businesses to rethink their future in the Big Apple — and to consider Louisiana instead. The headline, printed in bold above the fold, delivered the message with unmistakable clarity:

“In Louisiana, we value capitalism, not socialism.”

The ad was paid for by Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and ran in the Journal’s Nov. 17 national edition, directly targeting the financial sector, corporate leaders, and firms with heavy East Coast operations.

The Political Trigger: Zohran Mamdani’s Shock Election

Mamdani, a New York State Assembly member aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, won an upset victory to become New York City’s mayor-elect on November 5. His platform includes:

• A citywide rent freeze

• Higher taxes on corporations and top earners

• A $30 minimum wage by 2030

• “Social housing” models for public development

• Expanded public-sector employment

• Increased regulations on finance, real estate, and tech

Business groups in New York reacted with open concern. The Partnership for New York City warned of “market disruption.” Real estate analysts predicted capital flight. Tech investors called the agenda “deeply hostile to private enterprise.”

Landry saw an opening — and took it.

Louisiana’s Pitch: Lower Taxes, Lower Costs, and a Different Philosophy

The advertisement highlights Louisiana’s advantages compared to high-cost, regulation-heavy metro areas:

• Nation-leading industrial and logistics capacity

• Pro-business tax reforms implemented in 2024

• Low cost of living and low cost of operations

• Reliable and affordable energy

• A workforce development system led by FastStart, consistently ranked #1 in the country

• Strategic access to Gulf trade routes and global export markets

The message is unapologetically ideological: while New York City prepares for an administration openly hostile to capitalism, Louisiana is positioning itself as the opposite — a place where investment is encouraged, growth is celebrated, and businesses are treated as partners rather than targets.

Competing States Are Already Making Similar Moves

Louisiana isn’t alone in trying to capitalize on New York’s political shift. Florida, Texas, and Tennessee have all used political contrasts to lure companies in the past five years.

But Landry’s move stands out for one reason: it’s the first state-level full-page national advertisement explicitly responding to Mamdani’s election.

It signals that Louisiana is aiming beyond the Gulf South. The target audience isn’t just industrial firms — it’s finance, tech, media, logistics, and corporate headquarters accustomed to New York’s business ecosystem.

Can It Work?

While no ad can relocate a Fortune 500 company on its own, relocation experts say the strategy is sound:

• NYC’s corporate tax burden is the nation’s highest.

• Commercial real estate prices remain elevated while occupancy remains depressed.

• Regulation-heavy policies increase compliance costs.

• A tightening far-left political climate may push employers to look elsewhere.

Louisiana offers:

• Port access

• Cheaper labor costs

• Lower taxes

• An emerging tech and logistics corridor

• And an increasingly stable, predictable regulatory environment

In relocation decisions, “political trajectory” has become a serious factor — and Landry’s administration is signaling that Louisiana’s trajectory is pro-investment and pro-growth.

A Symbolic Move — But Also a Competitive One

While critics will call the ad political posturing, business leaders note that competition between states has become increasingly nationalized.

If New York City is signaling an era of aggressive regulation and anti-corporate policy, Louisiana’s message is the mirror image: You still have a place to go.

Landry summarized it bluntly in the advertisement:

“As you rethink New York City, rethink Louisiana.”

With one of the nation’s lowest costs of doing business, billions in energy and manufacturing investment underway, and a governor actively courting employers, Louisiana is staking its claim in the fight for national corporate relocation.

And with the political winds shifting in cities like New York, the timing may prove strategic.