The GOP-controlled Legislature passes a court-ordered map that gives Democrats slim opportunities in a deep-red state—pending judicial approval.
SALT LAKE CITY | Utah lawmakers approved a new congressional map Monday that could make two of the state’s four districts more competitive, offering Democrats a rare opening in one of the nation’s most Republican states. The move follows a federal judge’s August ruling striking down Utah’s previous map as a violation of a voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law.
According to a Salt Lake Tribune analysis, the redrawn 3rd District has a +6 Republican edge, while the 2nd District sits at +11. The Legislature’s plan must now be approved by a federal judge before taking effect in time for the 2026 midterm elections.
Political Fallout and Partisan Tensions
The new map is part of a broader wave of Republican-led redistricting efforts across the country — including recently redrawn maps in Texas and Missouri — as the party works to solidify its fragile House majority. The Utah redraw, however, was ordered by the courts after activists argued that the prior map had ignored the intent of Proposition 4, a 2018 ballot initiative that established an independent redistricting commission.
The Legislature simultaneously passed an amendment to Proposition 4, mandating that any new map undergo three tests — including a “partisan bias test” — to ensure it aligns with Utah’s voting history. Democrats blasted the move as an attempt to delay or undermine implementation of the new boundaries.
“I wonder if it’s just another delay tactic,” said State Sen. Nate Blouin (D-Salt Lake City), who voted against the amendment.
Anti-gerrymandering groups are preparing to challenge the new legislation. Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Better Boundaries, called the amendment “a direct violation of voter intent” and confirmed her organization is preparing new litigation.
Democrats See Glimmers of Opportunity
Despite the Republican tilt, Democrats are eyeing potential openings. Former Rep. Ben McAdams, a moderate Democrat who represented the state’s 4th District from 2019 to 2021, is reportedly considering a comeback run pending the judge’s approval of the new map.
Progressive State Sen. Nate Blouin, also mentioned as a possible contender, said he’s waiting to see “if the map the Legislature passes will actually stick.”
National Democrats see Utah’s new configuration as a symbolic opportunity in their broader anti-gerrymandering campaign, led by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC).
“It is shameful that Republicans in the Legislature are once again trying to cheat Utah voters,” said John Bisognano, NDRC president. “The map passed by the Legislature does not meet the criteria established in the independent reforms that voters approved.”
National Redistricting Context
The Utah case underscores the growing legal clash between partisan lawmakers and courts over who controls the nation’s electoral boundaries. While Republicans have gained ground in southern and midwestern states, Democrats have won key court victories in North Carolina, Alabama, and Louisiana.
If the Utah map stands, it could provide Democrats with two highly competitive seats in a state long seen as politically impenetrable, marking a rare instance where court intervention reshapes a GOP-dominated landscape.
With litigation ongoing and judicial review pending, Utah’s new map could become a national bellwether for how courts balance voter-approved reform measures with legislative power.
======
-- By Bronwyn A. Stone
© Copyright 2025 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment