The northeast will shed congressional seat while the South and Southwest pick up seats in 2011, based on the U.S. Census data recorded this year. The political implications are interesting. While the south is a stronger Republican region, it is likely that a good portion of that population growth is due to immigration (hispanics). The hispanic vote trends Democrat, although by no means a lock.
More generally, I am under the impression that regional differences are the single most overlooked and important factor in U.S. politics.
I think this is almost all good news for Republicans, since most of the additions are in traditionally R areas and most of the losses will also leave resdistricting to R-controlled legislatures. Funny, because I remember many Rs wringing their hands with fear and trembling at the prospect of the census and thought that Ds would do all the redistricting. But the new D hegemony that many thought President Obama would bring has proved illusory...
ReplyDelete