It looks like this state's political clout in Washington, D.C., is about to grow.
Statewide population has grown by about 100,000 in the past year and about 770,000 since the 2000 Census, making the state the 13th most populous at 6.66 million residents.
The growing population should translate into an additional congressional seat up for grabs in the 2012 election, bringing to 10 the number of U.S. House of Representatives elected by voters in Washington State.
An increased presence in Congress will help ensure that the state's needs and concerns are better represented in federal legislation.
"This is very good news for Washington — a greater voice in the other Washington," Secretary of State Sam Reed, a Republican, said upon learning of the changing U.S. demographics that shape how the 435 members of the House are apportioned across the country.
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