The Census: like a ten-year-long election, dependent (as elections sometimes are) on turnout.

Response to the federal census could end up hurting some states, and therefore helping others:

WASHINGTON – Five states — New York, California, Texas, Arizona and Florida — are perilously close to losing out on congressional seats because of lackluster participation in the U.S. census.

Can’t say as I’m all that heartbroken, although I could wish that more of those top five were perennial liberal states.

Of the five states on the cusp, the biggest potential losers are California and New York, which could have a net loss of one and two House seats, respectively. Texas may end up gaining just three House seats instead of four.

Well that’s good, anyway. Texas is, like, ridiculous conservative. But:

States such as Minnesota and Oregon are next in line to pick up seats.

Two liberal states, which puts us right back where we started.