Even if Democrats can celebrate a Joe Biden victory in January, there may be cause for concern in the near future. Several historically blue states could be looking at a loss of political power.
This may come as a result of the next apportionment in Congress. These are based on state estimates and currently, many Democrat-run states appear to be in danger of losing out.
And on the flip side, some predominantly red states could benefit.
According to a recent Census Bureau report, America could see some significant shifting in terms of congressional seats. These are of course critical for future elections.
If the trends continue in the current vein, states like California and New York might lose a chunk of their political power, while 7 other states – mostly Red – would gain.
This would alter the voting and election landscape, and not in a way Democrats will like.
Via Roll Call:
New York stands to lose two congressional seats, according to population estimates released Tuesday by the Census Bureau, making the state the biggest loser in the next apportionment if the official count comes out the same.
California could also lose a congressional seat for the first time in the state’s history.
Other states in danger of losing a seat include: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Rhode Island and Minnesota.
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Those seats would shift south and west, as Texas would gain three seats and Florida would snag two.
Additionally, North Carolina, Colorado, Montana, Arizona and Oregon would also gain seats. While not all states on either side are Blue or Red, the majority does seem to favor the GOP.
The Census Bureau takes the decennial count, which determines the distribution of seats in Congress. These results are also used to draw legislative maps and direct over $1.5T in federal funding.
In other words, such reports are massively important.
It’s also interesting to note that California, Texas, Florida and New York are in the top 10 in terms of “undocumented populations” (per a 2016 Pew Research Center estimate).
The bottom line, however, is that if states like California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Rhode Island lose seats, that could spell victory for Republicans.
Don’t forget that President Donald Trump lost all those states in the 2020 presidential election according to official results.
So, if population continues to dwindle in the historically Democrat strongholds, future elections – including the 2024 presidential race – could be affected.
Key Takeaways:
- According to a new Census Bureau report, a few Blue states could lose at least 1 Congressional seat.
- California might lose a seat for the first time in history. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Illinois and West Virginia could also lose out.
- States that might benefit from extra seats: Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Montana, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon.
Source: Roll Call