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COLUMBIA (WACH) – Based on the population data released Tuesday by the National Census Bureau, South Carolina will gain a seat in the US Congress.

The data showed South Carolina’s population grew by more than 15 percent over the past ten years to 4.6 million residents.

USC Political Science Professor Bob Oldendick calls the news exciting.

"It does increase the representation in congress so, to the extent that there are national policies that have an impact on the state of South Carolina, we have one more voice," said Oldendick.

Oldendick says while one seat is not a tremendous increase in power, having any kind of extra representation in congress should be seen as a positive.

The professor adds that the new seat will most likely be held by a Republican, giving the GOP a political advantage for the next ten years.

"Democrats should feel pretty disappointed. They knew that going into the election. With the likelihood that this 7th district was going to come back from the national House of Representatives, that they would be at a disadvantage in terms of how that district was drawn," said Oldendick.

Oldendick says the Republican controlled General Assembly will redraw district lines next year.

The new congressman for the new district will be elected in 2012's Congressional Election.

For more on the population growth, please visit: http://www.prb.org/Topics/Census2010.aspx.