The results of the 2010 U.S. Census could result in a Congress that leans more to the right. Figures released on Tuesday show several Republican-leaning southern states picking up Congressional seats through redistricting.
UW-Madison Political Science Professor David Canon says that will have a big impact on the political landscape over the next decade. Largely because it will allow Republicans to pick up even more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than they would have under the current district lines.
Wisconsin saw population grow of about six-percent over the last decade, which was enough to hold on to its eight seats in the House. However, Canon says many of our Midwestern neighbors will be taking a hit, with Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and others losing seats under redistricting. Those seats will be moving to states such as Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
There is one factor that could lessen the impact of redistricting though. Canon says many of the states that saw population booms that allowed them pick up seats had their biggest growth among Hispanics. He says that group tends to lean Democratic, which could actually lead some of those new districts to elect Democrats instead of Republicans.
Canon says the Census results will also impact Presidential politics because of shifting votes in the Electoral College. He says it will result in about 10 Electoral votes that will change directions, which can sometimes make all the difference in a close national race.