Interesting you picked those states, of those states, all but North Carolina have been becoming bluer. Using 2012 vs 2016 presidential margin of victory, with blueness being positive, Texas went −15.78% to -9.00%, Virginia went 3.87% to 5.32%, Arizona went −9.06% to -3.55%, North Carolina went −2.04% to -3.66%, Georgia went −7.82% to -5.13%, Utah went −48.04% to -18.08%.
I think you can interpret that as, prosperity leads to bluer policies, or bluer policies causes prosperity, or possible a little of both.
I think you can interpret that as, prosperity leads to bluer policies, or bluer policies causes prosperity, or possible a little of both.