There is power in numbers, and Texas is about to have a lot more clout in Washington, D.C.
It's all in the numbers.
The Census Bureau on Tuesday released the results of the 2010 census, and boy, how Texas has grown.
Our state will be getting four new seats in Congress as a result of the latest numbers, a bigger boost than any other state.
More people moved here — and especially to North Texas — than anywhere else over the past decade.
That earns the state four more Congressional districts that the Republican-controlled legislature will draw up for the 2012 elections.
"They can draw maps that favor Republicans in the overwhelming numbers that reflect the November 2nd elections," said Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune.
Hispanics drove the growth — from 32 percent of the state's population in 2000 to 37 percent in 2010.
But a majority of Hispanic voters support Democrats.
Democrats said they expect Republicans to draw lines to dilute those Hispanic population gains that merit at least two seats.
Chris Elam, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Texas, said it's too early to know where the new seats will go. "Our goals in the Congressional elections of 2012 are to continue extending our gains across Texas and to continue increasing the number of Latinos in the Congressional delegation," he said.
Locally, that Hispanic growth means a new Hispanic majority district could be drawn in Dallas County. State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) sits on the House Elections Committee, and says a Hispanic district is due.
"My view is that you will see a Hispanic seat in North Texas, and it will likely be a swing seat as well — winnable by either a Democrat or Hispanic, a Hispanic Democrat or Hispanic Republican," Anchia said.
Regardless of who wins, both parties agree it means more Texas clout at the Nation's Capitol.
Texas gained the most people since the 2000 census, adding 4.3 million residents. That puts our population at more than 25 million, second only to California, with a population of 37 million.
Adding to the importance of the 2010 results: The numbers are also used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal aid.
E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com
