Populace that has less H1Bs and other visas holders that are modern day slaves who must work 16 hours a day, afraid from being kicked out of the country (look at X formerly known as Twitter for an example...)
So it's not about what populace believes, every human being wants to live not to slave. It's all about their current precarious employment.
It’s a difference between loving tech and loving cold beer and barbecuing. Add to that calling people “tech transplants” (Texans just can’t quit doing that, even if they move to California) and worse climate than SF Bay and suddenly no technology loving person wants to waste time in Texas.