Thread by @jeremyduda

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is about to begin today's meeting. You can tune in here:

Here's today's agenda. Among other things, they'll be discussing the travel schedule for the IRC's upcoming tour around the state, and hearing a presentation from the state demographer. publicmeetings.az.gov/sites/default/…

State demographer Jim Chang is beginning his presentation

Chang warns that the numbers from ACA presentation are different from the Census Bureau's population numbers, and won't match what the census provides on Aug. 16

The state demographer had previously estimated Arizona's 2020 population at just under 7.3 million. The Census pegged it at 7,158,923, nearly 80,000 short of what Arizona needed for a 10th congressional seat.

Chang's graph shows the population change in Arizona's congressional districts from 2010-2019, based on the Census's American Community Survey.

The IRC erases the map and draws new districts from scratch rather than just adjusting current lines, but this gives a general idea of where the most population growth occurred.

Chang said he always thought the Census Bureau's Arizona population estimate of 7.4m was too high, so he wasn't surprised to see it come in lower. But he was surprised that their count ended up lower than the estimate from his office.

Here's the tentative schedule for the IRC's statewide listening tour. Executive Director Schmitt says evening meetings will start at 5pm, and morning meetings on weekends will start at 9 or 10am.

The IRC will again next Tuesday as usual, but will skip Tuesday, July 6. The next meeting after that will be July 13.

The IRC has adjourned for the day