POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Despite rapid growth, Utah not awarded another seat in Congress

Apr 27, 2021, 12:37 PM

Utah home prices...

Home heating prices are on the rise around the country, but not as high in Utah, (PHOTO: KSL TV)

(PHOTO: KSL TV)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Despite rapidly growing over the past decade, Utah’s population did not increase enough to gain another seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Population boom not enough for another seat

New census data shows the Beehive State has grown over 18% in just the past decade. The state currently has around 3.3 million residents, although it’s not enough to gain another member of Congress.

“Our beautiful landscapes, business and family-friendly policies, and endless opportunities are hard to beat. How we grow matters and we must manage this rapid growth strategically,” tweeted Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson. 

According to Mallory Bateman, senior research analyst and state data center coordinator at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, net migration accounted for 35% of the state’s growth.

Congressional seats on the move

On Thursday, it was announced six states are picking up House seats. Texas is gaining two, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will all add one seat.

Meanwhile, California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are each losing one seat. The number of seats in the remaining 37 states will not change.

“Don’t anticipate that this will rewrite the math in some sort of definitive or fundamental way,” Chris Karpowitz, co-director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University, told the Deseret News. “A lot will depend on how the districts are drawn, whether the legislatures in place like Texas and North Carolina are going to draw those districts in ways that lead to competitive districts or whether they favor one party over the other.”

Although Utah won’t receive a fifth House member, political boundaries may be redrawn by the newly organized Utah Independent Redistricting Commission. The panel held its first meeting earlier this month.

Proposition 4 was approved in 2018, which promotes fairer drawing of congressional districts and legislative boundaries in order to avoid gerrymandering. 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Politics + Government

rep phil lyman shown, he made comments about the bridge collapse in maryland...

Heather Peterson

LISTEN: Utah Rep. Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on DEI

Rep. Phil Lyman said the bridge collapse is because of "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens."

1 day ago

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in...

MARK SHERMAN

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used pill

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for bans or severe restrictions on abortion in many Republican-led states, abortion opponents on Tuesday will ask the high court to ratify a ruling from a conservative federal appeals court that would limit access to the medication mifepristone, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States last year.

2 days ago

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Oct. 14, 2022. Instagram has star...

Associated Press

New Instagram feature limits display of political content

Instagram has started an automatic clamp down on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds.

3 days ago

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...

Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Kristin Wilson, CNN

Marjorie Taylor Greene files surprise motion to oust Speaker Johnson, a sign of growing revolt from the right

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion, seeking to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.

3 days ago

U.S. Second Gentleman Doug , and Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Biden and Director of the W...

Bridger Beal-Cvetko

Second gentleman, White House official tout federal funding to remove lead pipes in SLC

The Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, visited with Salt Lake leaders Friday to tout federal investment in the workforce and clean drinking water.

5 days ago

FILE: A woman holds flavored vape on May 30, 2023. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)...

Allessandra Harris

Flavored vape products will no longer be sold in Utah

Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill this week that will ban the sale of flavored vape products in the state,

5 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Despite rapid growth, Utah not awarded another seat in Congress