REAPPORTIONMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL SEATS LOOKS SOMEWHAT DISMAL

These numbers are all based on projections of estimates of 2005 census information. Things could change between now and 2010 but they are as likely to charge for the worse as for the better. The way it stands now the big winners will be 2 red-leaning states, Texas and Florida with each state gaining three seats in Congress. And with state legislatures and governorships firmly in the hands of partisan rightists in both states, it isn't likely that any of those 6 seats are going to look blue or even blueish. Arizona looks to gain 2 seats and there will be one each for Nevada, Georgia and Utah. The states that will lose seats are all in the Northeast and Midwest, with New York and Ohio probably losing 2 each. Single seat losses are likely for Massachsetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. It is likely that Democrats in control of most of these states will be able to make sure that it will be Republicans in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota who lose out, offering at least some modicum of balance for the GOP new districts in the Sunbelt.