Hitlery won Colorado Springs. Colorado actually selected Bernie Sanders as their Dem POTUS candidate.
If you want to tolerate the wide range of temperatures, AZ is a better bet politically at the present time, John McCain and Phoenix's irrational lib voters notwithstanding.
Prescott is quite a picturesque western town, imo, but I've not lived there.

Many people I know have left here or are leaving in the next year. Many have gone to Idaho, and seem to really like it. Some have gone to Texas.

Like rats leaving a sinking ship now. One lady friend of mine who has 3 kids was boxing her stuff when we were yapping on the phone last night....Idaho. Good people, all these people. Good, honest, families. Can't take it here anymore...

I've been through Flagstaff a few times and stayed there a couple of times. It seemed like a nice place and even considered that as a destination for my wife and I. We have relatives in Phoenix, but I don't want to live in a desert. However, I've discovered that in winter Flagstaff can get as much (or more) snow as we do here in Western NY and the mountain passes can get buried. Part of my plan is to escape long deep snow winters nixing Flagstaff.

My Phoenix relatives that want me to move there know I don't want to live in a desert and have nixed Flagstaff so they have highly suggested Prescott, which I have never been to. I have heard many good thing about Prescott and I will check it out on my next trip to Phoenix later this year.

Walking away is one option. The equality of outcome cultist are spreading and there will always be a planet full of unequal individuals to covert to their faith. At least until they make everyone equally equal.

It would be interesting if someone had a digital world map that showed the viral spread of this cult from the beginning and the dire future predictions if not stopped. Like in those end of the world movies.

Let's hope that none of the notions the brought down California and precipitated you decision to leave do not travel with you to Arizona. I'd be careful about Colorado as I believe they are following California's example.

To many from California are already in Colorado!
Busy turning it into the mess they attempted to escape from.

The problem as I see it is no matter where you decide to go there will be others that follow for very similar reasons. Too bad far too many of them bring their political BS with them and in a very short time they will ruin the place they escaped to.

Something I've come to realize in my research...If a place has nice weather and pleasant natural surroundings the leftists are trying to take it over. Where are they not going? North Dakota? I have even read things that indicate I should avoid the Boise area to avoid them. I can tolerate leftism to a level...to the point where I can "hide in plain sight" as is mentioned here. I'm trying to get my kids to adulthood without the officials prying into every facet of how I raise them. That's coming to an end here in California. So...it's a study of where can I go where the chances of getting mugged are low, there aren't tent cities everywhere, there are some great outdoor activities and the schools are good. You'd be amazed how hard that is to find these days...all a sign of leftists creeping in everywhere. We are living in interesting times. Problem is here in California we're on the bleeding edge of totalitarianism and bureaucracy prying itself into families. I view the family structure and culture as a foundational component of civilization. It's viewed here as a cancer, a threat. Without getting into the details...I can hardly listen to the radio on my drive in to work in the mornings without hearing a flood of propaganda. It's like we're living in a horror movie out here.

Leftists desire being elected because they thirst for control. I think the whole nation is subject to a slow transition in that direction...leftist control. If I can just get my kids to adulthood the way I want the battle is done and won.

Avoid Colorado. Our new governor is a socialist. We’re looking to get out.

I think Colorado and Arizona are turning leftist, so I would be hesitant to go there. Plus they have state income taxes, so there is more government to contend with.

I live in Nevada, but its turning leftist also. At least there isnt a state income tax YET, but its been over run by leftists from California.

I think Utah might be a good place. The fear of being around mormons kept out the minorities to a substantial degree, which means its a more homogenous society. I think the mormons will leave you alone if you leave them alone. I think there is a state income tax though.

Florida has no income tax, as I think is the case for Wyoming and perhaps Texas. I figure the higher the taxes, the more collectivism there is.

Flagstaff is nice. I went to school there for one semester. It's up on the Mugion Rim, so you have some altitude and it gets snow in the winter. Colorado has also lost it's mind, so I wouldn't go there. Carson City is great. I loved Reno when I lived there and it was still the Biggest Little City in the World. Now it's pretty expensive. Fallon is a bit cheaper option, but you don't have the Sierras in your back yard there, just Top Gun. It also snows in Northern Nevada. Nevada has no state income tax which is a plus, as does Wyoming. I like Montana, no sales tax, but state income tax. Some areas even still have their brains in place. If you want to know about NW Montana you can ask me.

Where is Texas on your List?

FL could use some conservatives, and NO state income tax.

Same with TN.

Flagstaff is at the top of a mountain isn't it?...seem to remember a nice town there on the way to california back in the 70s...would be a good place to ride out the magnetic polar reversal...likely in the next 27 years.

"Early retirement is looming."
I'm averse to things looming.
- I think the best places are where you have a network of people you trust.
- If there's a career opportunity, that could overcome the drawbacks of moving to a place far from your network or that you don't like. You could take the money and experience and go wherever you want.
- If you want a break, you can go any place that's relaxing to you.

It's sort-of the trifecta if you can find a relaxing place that has friends and family and from where you can work.

I too have been thinking about this, and have come up with (and eliminated items from) a list very similar to what is discussed in this thread. I would like to add some thoughts and get feedback.

The reason that CA has such pleasant weather is that it is one of the handful of places in the world with a "Mediterranean Climate", but if you are in SoCal and not near the ocean then the summer months are too hot to do anything outdoors. I love the outdoors and it is increasingly onerous to not be able to do anything after work in the summer months here in LA. Carson City it technically in the border of the Med Climate Region, and I am waiting to see what the weather is like there in the summer - whether one can hike and ride during the afternoon in July and August. (Since there are people here on this list with more knowledge of the area, I would like to hear back). It is certainly COLD in the winter in CC - 37 today vs 71 here in SoCal.

CA may not be a great place to live, but it is a good place to visit and living in Texas would make that hard. (I had pretty much decided on Austin at one point, but have now recanted. Austin is now a prime contender for Amazon campus, which will certainly alter the area.) From NV, at least I can visit my CA friends.

Yes, a Mormon population does seem to be a good buffer against leftist migration. I am not religious, but I have gotten along well with Mormons in the past - and Carson City seems to have a population thereof.

NV lacks a seacoast, which is really bad. That is the major advantage that TX has: if TSHTF, then Texas has both resources and coastline.

Just some thoughts.

Jan

We actually talked seriously of moving to Colorado Springs, but it is a liberal area long term. Love AZ, Flagstaff is expensive but beautiful. Prescott and Oro Valley are nice, but hot. I grew up in Texas, N. Mexico, Wyo. and ND, with uncle in Pheonix (too hot) and gransparents in Calif, L.AA. area, to wacky. I do love Payson, AZ, rugged, does get snow, but my uncle had a second home there when Phoenix got too hot, and we always tried to meet up there. Roswell, N.M. is a nice retirement area, and only about an hur from the mountains if you get hot.

I am similarly thinking about relocating.
My past 27 years have been working in Washington State. No state income tax.
I recently retired. . . so the state income tax is no longer a big deal . . .
Climate and "interesting places to hike and see" with affordable housing are topping the list.
- Stayed in and drove through Flagstaff AZ March 7-8... Terrible snowstorm -- they have a high elevation - get lots of snow.... drove 2 hours to Page AZ... beautiful blue sky and just plain nice.
- Spent a day and a half in Sierra Vista AZ ... about 12 miles north of the border with Mexico.
My friend that moved from from WA state says summers get up to 93F (unlike 114F for Phoenix) ... and there are loads of hiking trails, hills, low population density and home prices are reasonable... Sierra Vista is on my list.
- Driving out of Death Valley through Panamint Springs then onto US 395 heading North ... going through Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop ... nice little towns ... beautiful views of the mountains to the West . . . I will need to drive through there again this summer and make inquiries.
- St. George Utah -- great location ... only seven hours (max) drive from all the Utah Natl Parks, plus Grand Canyon and sundry other wonderful trekking locales. And although I am a member of no religion, I do tend to like Mormon Country and a few of my closest friends are Mormons.
- Nowhere Oregon ... lots of wide open spaces remain in S.E. Oregon ... I was at a hot springs there many years ago -- Alvord Hot Springs. Spoke with one of the natives. She had a place (would not divulge the location) and had been living off the grid for a few years. Lots of open country to disappear into.
- Default -- Remain in Eastern Washington for the relatively mild winters, lovely spring plus warm summer and fall.

In all likelihood, I will stay put with E. Washington as my home base as I explore over the next two years... someplace in Southern Nevada or Arizona would be my target in term of my current outlook.

Colorado Springs area is nice, woodland park is also. Another good place is the Monument/Palmer Lakes Area, it is just below Monument Hill which usually closes a couple of times in the Winter. I live just north of there in a town called Castle Rock. Good schools but housing is getting closer into the pricier Denver Metro Area as it is an easy commute into the Denver area proper. Larkspur is right in between Castle Rock and Monument (north side of Monument Hill) and Castle Pines (just north of Castle Rock and more convenient to Denver). My cousin lives on the east side of Colorado Springs and loves it. I love Castle Rock but unless I get a better job, I am being priced out of the rental market, already priced out of buying. Please if you do come here, leave CA in the rear view, we are already becoming East California as far as politics. Colorado Springs up to Douglas County are conservative but Denver/Boulder has enough people to override the rest of the state for votes.

Page, AZ is very nice.
Southern Utah and the Arizona Strip are lovely also.

We here in Indiana would like to build a fence around our state to keep the Liberals out. But we would love to have you. It's a quiet state and flat, but if you find beauty in corn and wheat fields, Indiana might be for you.

I live in Sedona Arizona, unfortunately the prices for homes or land to build on has sky rocketed. I moved here 29 years ago and I'm not going to move any where else. I would would recommend Prescot Valley, Prescott proper wuould be a little pricey. Oro Valley is a nice area but you would be building a home in the middle of no-where. Flagstaff is a fairley large city @ 7k ft. living there would take some acclimatization. It gets pretty cold with a large snowfall at times (like this year). Home and land prices vary there. The out skirts of the city the homes and land are less expensive. I hope this helps.

You might consider Oklahoma, still the most conservative state. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area has very affordable housing, low cost of living, and a thriving labor market for both blue collar and professionals. It's a big medical center, with lots of advanced treatment facilities and specialists. The Oklahoma River (actually a dammed up stretch of the Canadian River) has Olympic qualified white water runs and canals run through the Bricktown entertainment section of town. Cultural life is pretty good, with an orchestra, museums, and multiple playhouses, with Broadway plays on a regular basis. Thanks to a diverse cultural makeup, there's a wide variety of restaurants offering Asian, European, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and African tastes, besides some top quality steakhouses.

Oklahoma City is on the junction of I-40 and I-35, so road travel East, West, North, or South is easy. Will Rogers airport is a well developed travel center, and Amtrak has a line between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, so rail travel is available.

When we retired 7 years ago we chose La Pine, Oregon. We absolutely love it here.

I strongly recommend going to https://www.bestplaces.net/ for very detailed metrics about any place in the U.S., including climate, politics and many other ways to measure quality of life according to your standards.
I've been using it for over 10 years in searches for places to go to escape where I was at the time. I have come down to Prescott and Prescott Valley as the place that gives me my particular combination of necessary characteristics. Of course, I live in the Santa Fe area now (don't ask), so almost any place is better, if I only measure politics. BestPlaces gives way over a hundred metrics and is highly user friendly.

My dream was to retire in Payson, AZ, and we took a couple of trips there to check it out. On our second trip, though, the sage was in full pollination mode; everything was covered in yellow. Despite having no known allergies before or since, we had to get out of there, we were so miserable. So be sure to really check the places out before committing to them. $.02