Author: Elena Liu
The U.S. Census Bureau released the first set of results from the 2020 Census on April 26. Based on these results, 13 states have gained or lost votes in Congress and, as a result, in the Electoral College for the next decade. Texas gained two additional seats. Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon each gained one seat. The seven states losing one seat each are California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The number of states experiencing a change in votes is slightly lower than changes resulting from the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, which each led to 18 states experiencing gains or losses. Changes in Congressional seats resulting from the 2020 Census are reflected in the map above.
For Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, this loss of one seat in 2020 continues a recent trend of losing at least one seat after each of the previous two censuses. Each of these states, however, retains at least 13 seats in the House of Representatives. New York was only 89 residents short of retaining their congressional seat, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In response, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo asked his state’s Attorney General to review the state’s options to challenge these results. Overall, the state saw a 4% increase in population, but this was not sufficient to retain every seat, given higher population growth in other regions of the country.
Of the states that gained one congressional seat, Florida and Texas stand out, with Florida now holding 30 total congressional seats and Texas holding 40. Texas has gained eight seats since the 2000 Census, while Florida has gained five. For the first time ever, Florida has passed New York for the third highest number of seats in Congress, trailing only California and Texas.
Politically, this new data continues the shift of power from the Frost Belt to the Sun Belt. New congressional districts will need to be drawn in all states with more than one district. Depending on state-specific redistricting procedures, these new districts may be drawn by partisan-controlled entities.
The new distribution of congressional seats will come into effect starting with the 2022 congressional elections. Detailed final data from the 2020 Census will be released by the U.S. Census Bureau on September 30, 2021.