By and large, the red state reaction to the pandemic was that the danger was highly overblown. Freedom was more important than life and public health. Mask mandates trampled on our fundamental rights. Vaccines? Take them or leave them. Just get on with life and hope for the best.
Today, several red states are trying to keep asylum seekers out of the country on the basis that–wait for it–a federal regulation based on public health and the pandemic must remain in place. I guess the virus is only a problem if it is carried by people from Central America.