LOS ANGELES (YBH.ME) – Next December, the results of the national census will be used to redraw Congressional districts, allocate Federal funds, and potentially impact the robustness of the two party system, especially in heavily blue states. Bloomberg released a preliminary report today assessing the already-known trends in the census.
2008 Election Results By Party, State
So far, it looks like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington will gain one representative. New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, all states hit by the economic downturn and shedding jobs and population, will lose one seat. Ohio looks to lose 2 seats.Texas, with 24.8 million people, and a gain of almost 500,000 in population just in the last year, will gain 4 seats, increasing to 36. California’s 53-person contingent would hold steady. Overall, the U.S. population grew by under 1 percent over 12 months between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009. The population is now estimated to be 307 million people. Wyoming gained the highest percentage in population, while Maine, Michigan and Rhode Island lost the most residents to other states. States gaining at least a seat are all in the South and West, according to Polidata, a demographic and research firm based in Vermont.
Re-drawing of Congressional districts is supposed to be impartial, but gerrymandering has long been used to insure safe seats and impossible-to-challenge incumbents of one party or another. In New York, for example, which is all Democrat except for two Congressional seats, the re-drawing will be done by the state legislature and governor’s office. Lacking a significant Republican presence in the process, the re-districting would potentially make New York’s political make-up all but a one party state.
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Laura spent years as a Hollywood story analyst, did a big 180, and is now an entrepreneur focused on web marketing and analytics. She's also a mom of one.Laura Glendinning article archive.
