Population growth slows in Minnesota

New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Minnesota’s population growth slowed down slightly in 2019. And, that has some concerned the state could lose a congressional seat after the 2020 Census.

The spring census will determine how the country’s 435 congressional seats are divvied up. Minnesota’s population grew by about six-tenths of a percentage point last year, or about 33,000 people. That was down slightly from seven-tenths of a percentage point the prior year.

State demographer Susan Brower says she’s less confident Minnesota will keep the seat, but that it’s still within reach. Election Data Services, a Virginia consulting firm that studies reapportionment, projects the state will fall about 21,000 and 25,000 people short of keeping the seat.