Illinois will find out Tuesday if, as expected, the state will lose a seat in the U.S. House. U.S. Census officials will release population numbers.

The 435 seats in the House are split up among the states every ten years using Census data. Surprises do happen, but experts are predicting Illinois will lose a seat, dropping from 19 down to 18.

The state lost one a decade ago, and when the district boundaries were re-drawn then, all Illinois incumbents were protected except for downstate Congressman David Phelps.

“I was the fall guy, you might say,” Phelps said.

Phelps lost the next election and now holds a senior post at the Illinois Department of Transportation. He said he hopes when congressional boundaries are re-drawn this time around, no incumbents are intentionally protected.

“When you’re drawing that map, don’t consider who is the present congressperson and trying to save their job,” he said.

Illinois will officially find out if it’s losing another U.S. House seat later this morning.