by John Fritze
12/23/2009
WASHINGTON — Although a decades-old population shift favoring Sun Belt states slowed this year, the South continues to seize political power once held by the Northeast and Midwest, Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday show.
Eight states, including six in the South and Southwest, would gain seats in the House of Representatives if apportionment were done today rather than after the 2010 Census, according to an analysis by the non-partisan Election Data Services.
Texas would be the biggest winner, adding three seats. In line to add a seat: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington.
Ohio would lose two seats, and Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania would each lose one.
“It’s a continuation of the trend we’ve seen before,” said Kimball Brace of Election Data Services.
The article continues here.
According to Washington Examiner editor Chris Stirewalt:
The last numbers before the 2010 Census are out, and it’s bad news for the northeast and, short-term at least, for Democrats.
If the numbers next year hold steady, you’d see three more congressional seats (and electoral votes) for Texas, and one each for Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. Losers would include Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana (Katrina), Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
President Obama would have won 353 instead of 365 electoral votes last year if the map were so arranged…
