In 1940, New York state sent 45 congressional representatives to Capitol Hill.

By the year 2000, that number had dropped to 29.

New York currently has 26 members of Congress, and according to a new report from Cornell University, the state’s population could shrink by 2 million more people over the next 25 years.

If that happens, it could lead to a loss of another two or more members of Congress; and the fewer representatives New York has in D.C., the less power and money the state receives, and the fewer electoral votes it will have. 

Matt Hall, a professor of public policy and sociology, as well as director of the Cornell Population Center, discussed the reasons New York state’s population is shrinking and how policy makers could stem the tide with Capital Tonight host Susan Arbetter.