US population crosses 331 mn as 6 states gain congressional seats while 5 lose out

The population of the United States crossed the 331 million mark according to the data released by the US Census Bureau on Monday. As a result, Congressional seats in the country will experience significant disruption before the 2022 midterm elections. States like Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, California and Ohio will shed off congressional seats while Texas is set to gain two seats. 

Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will be adding one seat to their tallies before the midterm elections.

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Meanwhile, an unexpected decline was witnessed in the rate of population growth in US when compared to the previous census conducted for the decades starting with 2000s and 2010s. 

The released data, which has been stretched in the country due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, reaffirms the predictions made by experts about a shift in the political dominance structure of the US. The repositioning of political capital in the midwestern and northeastern US takes a hit while southern and western states gain tangible political power, reported CNN.

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Under normal circumstances, the US Census Bureau releases the data on April 1. However, in light of the COVID-19 spread in US the collection of data was delayed.