The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday released its first numbers from the nationwide 2020 population count.
Ron Jarmin, the acting director for the Census Bureau, unveiled one nugget of interest for Northwest states, in terms of representation in Congress.
“Six states will gain seats in the House of Representatives. Texas will gain two seats. Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain one seat," he said.
Seven states lose one seat: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
For Oregon, it means a sixth seat in the House to go along with its two senatorial seats. Montana gains a second House member, which will reduce the travel burden for the state’s current representative, Republican Matt Rosendale.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the Census Bureau expects to release information needed by state and local committees to redraw Congressional boundary lines by the end of September.
Monday’s data release included statewide population estimates. Washington’s headcount, as of April 1, 2020, was 7, 715,946. That’s up almost a million people from 2010. Idaho has 1,841,377 people, up about 275,000. Oregon, 4,241,500, up about 400,000. Montana, 1,085,407, up about 100,000.