Fact check: Which US states contribute the most to national GDP after California?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Texas and New York are the two largest contributors to national GDP after California. The data consistently shows California leading with $4.08-4.1 trillion, followed by Texas with $2.695-2.7 trillion, and New York with $2.284-2.3 trillion ^{[1] [2]}.

California accounts for 14.2% of total U.S. GDP as of Q1 2023, making it the single largest state contributor ^[3]. The seven most populous states - California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio - are identified as the largest overall contributors to U.S. GDP ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on raw GDP contribution, but the analyses reveal important missing context about economic performance metrics beyond absolute GDP size. Several sources present alternative rankings based on economic health and growth rather than total output:

• Florida ranks #1 in overall economic performance rankings, despite not being among the top three in absolute GDP ^{[4] [5]}
• States like Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada appear in top economic performance rankings, suggesting strong growth trajectories and business environments that may not be reflected in current GDP totals ^{[4] [5]}
• The analyses include considerations of job growth, business environment, and economic indicators beyond raw GDP output ^[5]

Additionally, there's mention of current economic contraction in Q1 2025 and the impact of tariffs and trade policies on state economies, which could affect future GDP rankings ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no misinformation, as it asks a straightforward factual question about GDP contributions. However, the framing may create incomplete understanding by focusing exclusively on absolute GDP figures rather than economic dynamism or per-capita performance.

The question implicitly assumes that raw GDP contribution equals economic importance or success, which the alternative rankings in the analyses challenge. States with smaller absolute GDP contributions may have stronger growth rates, better business climates, or more sustainable economic models that aren't captured in the simple GDP ranking approach ^{[4] [5]}.

This narrow focus could benefit larger, established economic centers by reinforcing their perceived dominance while potentially overlooking emerging economic powerhouses with strong fundamentals but smaller current output.