NY among 7 states to lose Congressional seat following new Census count
US population grew by 7.4% since 2010, from 308.7 million to 331.4 million
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the 2020 Census shows the country’s population grew by 7.4 percent or by 22,703,743 since the last Census in 2010. The population went from 308,745,538 to 331,449,281.
New York is losing a congressional seat – down 27 to 26 – despite the state growing by 4.2 percent or by 823,147 people since the last Census — from 19,378,102 to 20,201,249.
However, that percent growth was behind the national average of 7.4 percent.
New York’s clout has gradually diminished in the 435-member House of Representatives, dropping from 41 members in 1960, to 39 in 1970, to 34 in 1980, 31 in 1990, 29 in 2000, 27 in 2010 and soon to be 26.
New York was the country’s third most populous state in the 2010 Census, behind California and Texas. The new count puts New York as the fourth largest state, with Florida claiming the third spot. California is at 39,538,223, followed by Texas at 29,145,505, Florida at 21,538,187 and New York at 20,201,249.
States that lost congressional seats include New York, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.
Six states are gaining seats with Texas getting two more and following get one more seat in Congress: Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Montana and Oregon.
Rob Ortt, the State Senate Republican leader whose district includes Orleans County, issued this statement about the loss of a congressional district in New York:
“Once again, New Yorkers are forced to suffer the consequences of One-Party Rule of state government, as we are now officially set to lose a congressional seat, according to today’s U.S. Census announcement.
“With the out-migration of more than a million people in the last decade, New York will lose federal representation and critical resources. We didn’t lose these New Yorkers to places like Florida and Texas ‘because of the weather.’ We lost them because we tax too much, we spend too much, and we fail to offer the opportunities that are available in more affordable states.
“It is an abject failure for the Empire State to be losing federal representation at a time when we should be leading the nation’s recovery. Our seniors, working families, small businesses, and all New Yorkers deserve better.”
