2010 Census To Bring U.S. House Changes

The coming 2010 Census will bring the usual end-of-decade re-allocation of seats in the U.S. House. According to what is known about the decade's population trends right now, here's how the changes are expected to break down.

Although a decades-old population shift favoring Sun Belt states slowed this year, the South continues to seize political power once held by the Northeast and Midwest, Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday show. Eight states, including six in the South and Southwest, would gain seats in the House of Representatives if apportionment were done today rather than after the 2010 Census, according to an analysis by the non-partisan Election Data Services. Texas would be the biggest winner, adding three seats. In line to add a seat: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. Ohio would lose two seats, and Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania would each lose one.

The Census will release its figures in early 2011. The people elected in the 2010 mid-terms are the ones who'll be redrawing the new districts.