Even in the states without State income taxes, I find that taxes are a huge disincentive to working. Once you make a certain amount, it really doesn't make sense to work harder if the extra money is being taxed at 37%+.
The globalist lockdowns crippled the oil industry in Texas. There is only so much individual states can do in the face of worldwode coordinated economic destruction. The dems are essentially economic terrorists at this point, threatening to vote them in and tow the line, or have your livelihoods ruined.
In the end I think it really helped the Republican party, though. Gay marriage was the dems #1 talking point for years, and after the SCOTUS ruling they got a lot weirder. They immediately moved on to pushing trans rights and shared bathrooms, and when that proved less popular they moved to open borders and socialism. Ever since they lost gay marriage they haven't had a popular cause.
The affordable care act was maybe a gift in disguise, too. It was so poorly executed that most people hated it. Premiums shot up, and nobody likes being threatened with a fine for not having expensive unnecessary insurance.
Look at them now. They are saying we need to elect them so they can impose more draconian lockdowns nation-wide. Hardly something that would excite the average voter.
They PROMISED to impose strict lockdowns and raise taxes as soon as they came into office. It's like they knew they didn't have to even care about getting votes because it would all be rigged.