North Carolina could gain a Congressional seat in 2010.

Two different forecasters predict that Congress will give the state a 14th U.S. representative after the next Census, based on current population growth, the Myrtle Beach Sun News reports.

Clark Benson of Polidata Political Data Analysis said the state could get a new seat, although it could be bumped off the the list by Pennsylvania, Washington or California.

And Kimball W. Brace of Election Data Services said two of his three models showed a new seat for North Carolina.

If a new district were drawn, it could be around either Wake or Mecklenburg counties, both of which have seen rapid growth in recent years.

The U.S. Census Bureau will present the data to Congress around the start of 2011.

Hat Tip: Carolina Politics Online