Census figures bring 10th representative, more clout to Washington state

Washington's presence in Congress is going to get larger and its clout in electing the next president stronger.

That's because the state will gain another seat – its 10th - in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 based on U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday.

Washington is one of eight states whose House delegation will increase in size as a result of the reapportioning process done every 10 years following a tally of the nation's population.