House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Monday his committee has received information indicating the United States Census Bureau miscalculated the 2020 census in a way that may have shifted multiple congressional seats away from Republicans.
Comer argued the count relied heavily on estimates during the COVID-19 pandemic instead of full in-person verification, claiming this led to overcounts in urban Democratic areas and undercounts in suburban regions that have trended Republican.
He said the alleged errors could have cost Republicans four to five House seats and altered apportionment outcomes, pointing to states like California, New York, and Rhode Island as areas he believes should have lost more representation, while Texas and Florida should have gained seats.
Comer added he plans to push for reforms ahead of the next census to ensure a more accurate count, arguing that even small miscalculations can have major political consequences in a closely divided House.
