I think the number is closer to 20. Look at the economic "gravity wells" of major cities and groups of cities. State borders should probably roughly align wit

I think the number is closer to 20. Look at the economic "gravity wells" of major cities and groups of cities. State borders should probably roughly align with those so you don't have people in places like Buffalo and Pittsburgh getting the shaft because the people who call the shots in NYC and Philly live in a totally different economic reality. If you did it right you could keep the red/blue balance of power intact enough. It will never happen because spinning up new state governments would represent a huge power (and then wealth) transfer away from the existing political class and professional managerial class who support them.