DeSantis Challenges 2020 Census Results, Claims Florida Shortchanged

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly criticized the U.S. Census Bureau for what he describes as misleading 2020 census numbers that resulted in Florida missing out on an additional congressional seat. During a news conference on August 20, DeSantis expressed his belief that the Sunshine State deserves more representation in Congress, citing a perceived undercount of residents that he insists needs “fixing.”

The U.S. Census, conducted every ten years, determines the distribution of congressional seats among the states through a process known as apportionment. Based on the 2020 census, Florida gained one additional House seat, bringing its total to 28. DeSantis stated, “This is something that has stuck in my craw for a number of years because I remember telling everybody that we were going to get two seats at the last census, and then when they came out with it, we only got one.”

Claims and Counterclaims

DeSantis has argued that the Biden administration acknowledged Florida’s undercount, suggesting that it was a systemic issue. He references the Census Bureau’s post-enumeration survey (PES), which revealed that Florida experienced an undercount of nearly 3.5%, equating to approximately 761,000 residents being missed. An analysis by Election Data Services indicates that Florida would have needed only about 171,500 more residents to secure an extra congressional seat.

Despite DeSantis’ claims, the Biden administration has not officially stated that Florida was shortchanged during the reapportionment process. The PES serves as a self-evaluation tool for the Census Bureau to assess the accuracy of the census count, highlighting areas of overcount and undercount. Critics argue that populations hardest to count include children, non-English speakers, and those without stable housing.

Political Context and Criticism

DeSantis’ assertions extend beyond mere statistical analysis. He claimed, “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but every state that shortchanged was a Republican state, and every state that got more was a Democratic state.” However, this statement lacks accuracy. States like Illinois, governed by Democrats, also faced undercounts, while Ohio and Utah, where Republicans hold sway, were overcounted.

Florida’s undercount can be attributed to insufficient state resources allocated for encouraging census participation. Unlike other states, such as New York, which invested $60 million, and California, which spent a substantial $187 million, Florida’s efforts were less robust. DeSantis only announced the formation of a committee to promote census participation in January 2020, shortly before the counting began.

The 2020 census faced numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, social unrest, and controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s attempts to include a citizenship question.

In response to DeSantis’ claims regarding the undercount, Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), clarified the constitutional requirements for apportionment. “Under the Constitution, you can’t reassign congressional seats as DeSantis would apparently like based on something that is not an actual enumeration,” Saenz stated.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who previously served as DeSantis’ chief of staff, acknowledged the need for action. In a letter to the U.S. Commerce Department, Uthmeier suggested utilizing the knowledge gained from the PES to conduct a “tailored and streamlined manual recount.” When pressed for clarification, Uthmeier’s office maintained that the letter’s contents were sufficient.

The debate surrounding Florida’s congressional representation reflects broader national discussions about census accuracy and the political implications tied to population counts. As DeSantis continues to advocate for what he perceives as a correction to the census results, the complexities of the issue underscore the challenges inherent in achieving an accurate count.