WASHINGTON— Minnesota will retain its eight seats in Congress, now split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, according to just-released 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data. Republican-leaning Wisconsin also will retain its eight seats. The shift could affect the 2022 midterm elections and whether Democrats maintain their narrow control of the House. The once every 10 years census is the basis by which representation in the 435-member U.S. House is determined. There are roughly 700,000 citizens per district. In general, the reapportionment reflects the continuing U.S. population shift west and south. Texas, for example, will gain two seats. Montana’s recent population boom gives it a second House seat, which it lost nearly 30 years ago when the state’s mining boom faded and people moved elsewhere.
Gaining seats
Colorado, up one to eight.
Florida, up one to 28.
Montana, up one to two.
North Carolina, up one to 14.
Oregon, up one to six.
Texas, up two to 38.
Losing seats
California, down one to 52.
Illinois, down one to 17.
Michigan, down one to 13.
New York, down one to 26.
Ohio, down one to 13.
Pennsylvania, down one to 17.
West. Virginia, down one to two.
Gerrymandering ahead?
Congressional distict boundaries in some states may need redrawing by state legislatures to assure that all districts have the same population, These adjust,ents can range from modest rejiggering to massive partisan and contentious gerrymandering.
U.S. Senate
Unaffected is the U.S. Senate. The Constitution specifies two senators per state, whatever the population.