113th Congress: House Democrats Are Mostly From Two States, But It Does Not Matter

Impact
ByDana Inez

When the 113th Congress convenes in January of 2013, 30% of the Democratic caucus will be from California and New York. This may not seem like a striking percentage, but just as 'Republican' has begun to connote a rich, white male Southerner in recent history, those who label themselves as Democrats may also begin to find themselves trapped in a corner. The question is whether or not it's a corner we'd like to be found in.

Instead of focusing on the evident change in the Democratic caucus, we should be more concerned with how the Republican numbers highlight an alarming kind of extremism.

While the fear of regionalizing is relevant — New York and California are culturally similar states, whose policy trends can isolate Democrats in the heartland — it is difficult to blame a state because of its geography and its demographics. New York and California are two of the most densely populated states, and they have the right to more representation in our governmental systems.

After all, a corner is only a corner is most of the country doesn't want to be in it.