The Census Bureau's latest population estimates have North Carolina on track to gain one seat in Congress after the 2020 census. We have 13 seats in the House of Representatives and will graduate to 14 if our population continues its upward trend. We also gained one seat in the 2010 census.
The other states on track to gain one seat in 2020 are Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Oregon. Florida is likely to gain two. And Texas is on track to get three or maybe even four new seats.
Our growth comes largely at the expense of the Rust Belt, including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia, which are each expected to lose one seat, as is Alabama.
The new population will also give us one more vote in the Electoral College, putting us at 16 electors. That, and an early primary, are likely to make this an interesting place in the 2020 campaign.
