California, New York in danger of seeing House delegations shrink further

[ThatRobGuy]

California, New York in danger of seeing House delegations shrink further

California and New York could see their House delegations shrink on the basis of population trends, while delegations in the South could grow, according to an analysis of recent U.S. census data. T…

thehill.com

California and New York could see their House delegations shrink on the basis of population trends, while delegations in the South could grow, according to an analysis of recent U.S. census data.

The analysis by the Brennan Center projected that California would lose four of its 52 congressional districts in reapportionment, the once-in-a-decade process in which population determines representation in Congress, if current trajectories hold.

California lost more than 75,000 residents in the last year, according to the new census numbers.

Census data shows that the Northeast saw the largest decline in population across the country, and that New York saw the largest losses in 2023 of any state. Nearly 102,000 people left the state in 2023.

Illinois, which lost almost 33,000 people, would lose two seats, and Pennsylvania, which lost more than 10,000 residents, would give up one seat, projections show.


What are some things that states could do either attract new people, or stop from losing their existing residents?

While the "people fleeing blue states due to crime and high taxes" has become something of common talking point, the article also touches on another unknown, which is, how are some of the Southern states (which have seen a net increase over the past few years) going to be impacted by things like gerrymandering and abortion restrictions (which could be a catalyst for people to move out of red states and into blue ones).

It also creates a bit of strategic conundrum with regards to certain red states voting in certain policies that end up causing moderates and slightly left leaning people to stay (who otherwise may have been tempted to pack up and move to a blue state) - specifically referring to things like marijuana and abortion.

For instance, while voting in marijuana and abortion rights were a progressive win for left-leaning Ohioans at a state level... had they not have passed there's a good chance several progressive Ohioans could've saw fit to pack up and move to either Illinois or New York (there by causing Ohio to potentially lose seats in the house, and have New York and Illinois avoid losing seats -- which would've been Democratic legislative win at a national level)