Almost all red states have seen their populations increase, while blue states have all seen their populations decline. Returning government to the people or big government control is the main reason behind the population shift. The picture shows the release of Fourth of July fireworks in New York’s Times Square in July 2020, with a sparse crowd in attendance.
New York State’s population is declining more than any other U.S. state this year (2020), a change that could result in the state losing up to two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives when seats are reapportioned from the floor.
According to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, preliminary data for 2020 shows that more than 126,000 residents fled the Empire State (as New York State is alias) from July 2019 to July 2020. The state’s population fell to 19.3 million, a 0.65 percent decrease. New York’s population has been steadily declining since 2016, with 2020 creating the largest decline to date.
The population decline could severely impact New York State as the House of Representatives will reallocate its 435 congressional House seats based on population displacement, and states that lose residents will also lose their corresponding House seats, potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress in a specific partisan direction.
At this rate of population loss, New York could lose as many as two U.S. House seats; it would certainly lose one seat, from 27 to 26, and its influence in Washington would change, according to USA Today.
William Frey, of the Brookings Institution, said that New York could lose as many as two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives at this rate. An analysis by William Frey of the Brookings Institution shows that traditionally Republican-leaning states, such as Texas, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina, are expected to gain seats in the redistribution of congressional seats, while blue states, such as California, New York and Illinois, should be prepared to lose congressional representation.
Florida overtook New York as the 3rd largest state in the U.S. in 2014, and the gap between the two has widened further since then. About 1.4 million people have fled New York in the last 10 years, with about 21 percent of them going to Florida, by far the most of any other state to move to, according to data from last year.
Since July 2019, Florida has added 241,256 people, a 1.12 percent increase, ranking second in the nation, which brings its population to 21.7 million.
Texas, the second most populous state, continued to add 373,965 people or 1.29 percent over the past year, ranking first in the nation, census data show.
Nationwide, Illinois is close to New York in terms of percentage population decline alone, with the state down 79,487, or 0.63 percent, since last year.
In the past year, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut all saw population declines.
In the case of New York State, the population movement may be attributed in part to the Wuhan pneumonia (Covid-19) virus pandemic. Uncertainty over New York City’s phased reopening plan caused many residents to flee, with more than 300,000 New Yorkers leaving their city homes between March 1 and October 31, half of whom left the state altogether.
Some red-state governors used census data to predict trends leading up to the release to invite blue-state residents to relocate to their states.
“Come to South Dakota!”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said. Kristi Noem tweeted to Minnesota bar owners who are struggling with Minnesota’s ban on in-person dining.
“We respect your right to do so,” Noem said. “We’re not going to shut you down = you.”
Earlier this year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) welcomed the exodus of large groups of Californians to his state, but he issued a stern warning against changing the political makeup of the region.
He declared, “To Californians moving to Texas: Remember all the high taxes, burdensome regulations and socialist agendas proposed by California?”
“We don’t believe in that. We believe in smaller government & more individual freedom.”
“If you agree, then you will be perfectly suited to live in Texas.”
According to the plan, census data will not be released until 2021.
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