Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released a video on social media inviting businesses considering leaving New York City following Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the mayoral election to relocate to the Volunteer State.
In Tuesday’s general election for New York City mayor, self-declared Democratic Socialist Mamdani defeated his closest competitor, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, by nearly 9 points, officially becoming the mayor-elect of the nation’s largest city.
On the campaign trail, Mamdani has promised to pay for his socialist-driven agenda by raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent and imposing a flat 2 percent tax on New Yorkers who earn more than $1 million annually.
Further, Mamdani has promised to raise the city’s minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030.
In Lee’s video which has racked up over 1 million views on X, he touts Tennessee as “the place for people who value opportunity, security, and freedom.”
If you’re a New York business owner who doesn’t like the direction your city is headed, we have a message for you:
Tennessee is open for business.
Strong economy.
Low taxes.
Government won’t get in your way.TN is the place for people who value opportunity, security & freedom. pic.twitter.com/3K1GSmm5Y2
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) November 5, 2025
“In light of the recent election results, I thought it would be a good time to remind you that Tennessee is the best state in the country for doing business. If you are a New York City business owner and you don’t like the direction your city has headed, I have a message for you: Tennessee is open for business,” Lee said in the video.
The governor touted the state’s low tax rate and workforce that is “ready…to meet the needs” for “any industry.”
“If you’re looking for an opportunity, you’ve found one in the state of Tennessee…We are open for business,” Lee added.
Last year, Tennessee ranked fifth in the nation for growth based on the number of one-way entries to the state, according to data compiled by the moving company U-Haul.
New York saw its lowest growth ranking in a decade last year, U-Haul noted.
This year, CNBC ranked Tennessee as the eighth-best state in the nation to do business.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
