GOP strategist Brad Todd educated CNN anchor Kate Bolduan on Thursday about how the U.S. Census Bureau population miscounts in the 2020 census harmed red states more.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had ordered his administration to create a new census that excludes illegal immigrants. Todd asserted on “CNN News Central” the 2020 count was skewed against Republican-leaning states as they tended to be undercounted. (RELATED: Blue States Try To Keep Illegals’ Medicaid Data Hidden From Trump Admin)
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“In fact, we know the 2020 census — the errors were almost always to the detriment of red states,” Todd said, with Bolduan interrupting to ask, “Do we know that?”
“We do know that. The Census Bureau’s own audit of its work has proven that. Blue states like Rhode Island were overcounted,” Todd said. “Rhode Island then didn’t lose a seat. Red states like Alabama were undercounted. This is just a fact. It wasn’t all red-blue, but it was disproportionately red-blue.”
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey found that 14 states were either under- or over-counted by a statistically significant amount. Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas were categorized as under-counted states, while Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Utah were listed as over-counted.
While the exact effect the miscount may have had on the House of Representatives or Electoral College allocation is not evident, five of the six states under-counted were controlled by Republicans and five of the eight states over-counted were controlled by Democrats.
Minnesota was divided, with one legislative body controlled by each party and a Democratic governor.
Dozens of Texas House Democrats have fled to blue states like Illinois to deny the state House a quorum required to pass a new congressional map that could net Republicans up to five additional seats. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to redraw California’s House map to counteract Texas Republicans’ push.
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday also pushed for gerrymandering in response to Texas, Politico reported.
The Census Bureau conducts a population count every decade, the results of which have significant consequences on the balance of political power throughout the U.S. The population count dictates reapportionment of the House of Representatives, causing states to have different congressional seats and districts.
Trump’s demand for a new census excluding illegal migrants will likely spark legal challenges. When the president tried to bar illegal migrants from the 2020 Census during his first term, his administration faced multiple lawsuits.
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