ARIZONA NEWS

Ducey, 14 other GOP governors urge release of Census redistricting data

Jun 22, 2021, 5:00 PM

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)...

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey was one of 15 Republican governors that sent a letter Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Commerce urging that the U.S. Census Bureau release redistricting data as soon as possible, saying further delays would hurt efforts to redraw congressional and legislative districts.

The letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo said the governors recognize the difficulties associated with completing the decennial Census during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has postponed the release of redistricting data until mid-August.

But the letter also said the ongoing delay puts states “in a nearly impossible situation to redraw lines prior to the 2022 election cycle” in U.S. House and state legislative districts.

The governors asked that redistricting data be released this month or as soon as possible.

“Further delaying the release of redistricting data negatively impacts redistricting efforts nationwide, places state governments in an unnecessarily precarious position, and presents compounding delays in operations at every level of government,” said the letter to Raimondo, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden.

The Census is completed every 10 years and is essential for determining population numbers and other key demographics. Census data is used for redrawing congressional and legislative districts, determining how many congressional seats each state gets, and deciding how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year.

As part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit brought by the state of Ohio, the Census Bureau promised in May to release the redistricting data no later than Aug. 16 — a date it had previously picked for releasing the numbers in an older format.

Ohio sued the Commerce Secretary earlier this year after the Census Bureau said it would be unable to meet a legal deadline to release the redistricting data to the states by March 31 because of delays caused by the pandemic. The bureau said in February that the data would be available in an older format in mid-August and in a more user-friendly format by the end of September. A federal judge dismissed Ohio’s case and the state appealed, saying the delay threatened its ability to meet redistricting deadlines approved by voters and set in its state constitution.

An appellate panel later said Ohio had standing to sue the Census Bureau. It sent the case back to the lower court to come up with a solution.

Still pending is a lawsuit filed by the state of Alabama against the Census Bureau in an effort to get the statistical agency to release the redistricting data before August. Alabama’s lawsuit also challenges the bureau’s use of a statistical method that Census Bureau officials say is needed to protect participants’ privacy, but which the state says damages accuracy. A three-judge panel could issue a ruling any day.

After the redistricting data is released in August and September, the Census Bureau also plans to release other data sets derived from the 2020 census, including tables on housing, family relationships in households and the age and sex of household members in areas as small as neighborhood blocks.

Other Republican governors who signed the letter include Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Kay Ivey of Alabama, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Mike Parson of Missouri, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Bill Lee of Tennessee, Greg Abbott of Texas and Mark Gordon of Wyoming.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

BASIS Peoria high school ranks best in the nation, US News says...

KTAR.com

West Valley high school ranked as best in nation by US News

The newly released 2024 best high schools rankings from U.S. News declared the BASIS Peoria high school as the best in the nation.

7 hours ago

The American and Ukrainian flags wave in the wind outside of the Capitol on Tuesday, April 23, 2024...

Associated Press

Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote

The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to Biden after months of delays.

9 hours ago

Expand Sky Harbor: Phoenix mayor announces terminal plans...

Serena O'Sullivan

Phoenix city leaders want a new terminal at Sky Harbor Airport

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego announced city leaders' intentions to expand Sky Harbor International Airport during a Tuesday speech.

9 hours ago

Pages from the United Healthcare website are displayed on a computer screen, Feb. 29, 2024, in New ...

Associated Press

UnitedHealth says wide swath of patient files may have been taken in Change cyberattack

The company said after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack.

10 hours ago

James LoMenzo, Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro attend SiriusXM's 'Trunk Nation' wit...

Damon Allred

‘Destroy All Enemies’ tour comes to Phoenix courtesy of metal band Megadeth

Heavy-rocking band Megadeth announced Tuesday a nationwide tour that stops in Phoenix in August with guests Mudvayne and All That Remains.

11 hours ago

Tuesday morning collision kills man...

KTAR.com

Man run over while pushing shopping cart on Phoenix roadway

A man is dead after a Tuesday morning collision near 35th Avenue and Osborn Road, the Phoenix Police Department announced.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Desert Institute for Spine Care is the place for weekend warriors to fix their back pain

Spring has sprung and nothing is better than March in Arizona. The temperatures are perfect and with the beautiful weather, Arizona has become a hotbed for hikers, runners, golfers, pickleball players and all types of weekend warriors.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics: transforming health care in the valley

Midwestern University, long a fixture of comprehensive health care education in the West Valley, is also a recognized leader in community health care.

(KTAR News Graphic)...

Boys & Girls Clubs

KTAR launches online holiday auction benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

KTAR is teaming up with The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley for a holiday auction benefitting thousands of Valley kids.

Ducey, 14 other GOP governors urge release of Census redistricting data