When folks talk about the census, it’s probably not a topic that sets too many people on fire.

But one of the reasons that Democrats are going all-in to grab what power they can now is that they know a shift is coming that can help Republicans.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today the results of the 2020 count that will determine the number of seats in the House of Representatives.

The count now means that the numbers are going to move away seats from California and New York, while Florida and Texas picked up seats.

When the difference in the House is so close and expected to get even closer, come 2022, this could be huge. It could potentially shift the balance of power.

According to the census, the population of the U.S. is 331,449,281 as of April 1, 2020.

Six states gained seats including Texas which picked up two. Florida, Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon will each gain one House seat each, while seven states will lose one seat each including California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

States that will gain seats: pic.twitter.com/lcybJ6WnXF

— Dr. Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) April 26, 2021

States that will lose seats: pic.twitter.com/UT5YUlfTDt

— Dr. Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) April 26, 2021

BREAKING: new Census apportionment counts…

TX +2
FL +1
CO, MT, NC, OR +1

CA, IL, MI, NY, OH, PA, WV -1

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) April 26, 2021

On top of the seats in the House, the census will also affect how many electoral votes each state gets since the electoral votes are counted based on the number of House members in each state plus its two senators.

There will be more information yet to come on the census. Politicians will now get into the question of redistricting and the fights over gerrymandering. Because Republicans control many of the statehouses, this may cut to the GOP’s benefit.

While this news is a move in the right direction that seems to pick up some more critical seats in states like Texas while losing seats in New York and CA, it’s slightly smaller than had been anticipated, according to David Wasserman, U.S. House editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

This is a slightly smaller seat shift than expected. The big winners: AL, MN and RI keep their current seats and breathe a huge sight of relief. NY avoids losing a second seat.

AZ misses out on gaining a seat. TX and FL each gain one less seat than expected.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) April 26, 2021

Interesting takeaways:

Census says that if New York had had *89 more people* we wouldn’t have lost another House seat (assuming no other states changed).

That’s INSANE.

— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 26, 2021

Blame NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York’s high taxes. Now, make sure it’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district and that can cap it all off.

This is the first time California has lost representation in the House since statehood. West Virginia, which had six seats as recently as 1963, will have just two in 2023.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) April 26, 2021

See above comment about Cuomo, substitute “Newsom.”