Yesterday I posted about speculation that Washington's growing population—we're estimated to be the country's 13th largest state, up from the 15th largest a decade ago—could put us in line for a 10th seat in the House of Representatives. Currently we have nine. Now David Ammons, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office, says it looks increasingly likely. But the downside—it looks like conservative states will pick up many more seats while progressive states will lose them. Says Ammons:

Washington apparently is in line for a new 10th congressional district, according to analysts at Election Data Services. The analysis, reflecting fresh population estimates from the Census Bureau on Wednesday, says if the numbers hold up in the 2010 Census, as expected, Washington will take the 435th of 435 House seats as a net gain.

The report says six other states, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina and Utah also would pick up a seat and Texas would gain three. Eight states would lose single seats — Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Ohio is projected to lose two seats.

The analysis indicates that Washington’s gain may be Oregon’s loss. Oregon was on the bubble to get a new seat. But Washington should gain that seat by just a hair — by a margin of less than 25,000 souls. “The additional seat appears to have gone to its northern neighbor, the state of Washington,” the report says.

The report from Election Data Services is here (.pdf).