Judge chooses Utah redistricting map that may help Democrats

**Judge Selects Plaintiffs’ Redistricting Map Over GOP Legislature in Utah, Opening Door for Democrats**

A Utah judge delivered a major blow to the state’s Republican legislature by selecting a redistricting map submitted by plaintiffs in a recent lawsuit, rather than the version drawn by GOP lawmakers. The decision, which comes ahead of next year’s midterm elections, could pave the way for Democrats to regain a seat in Utah’s congressional delegation.

The Republican-led legislature had previously approved a map that heavily favored their party, reflecting Utah’s 2-1 Republican majority. This partisan map made it nearly impossible for a Democrat to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, organizations including the League of Women Voters of Utah, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, the Campaign Legal Center, and several Salt Lake County voters filed a lawsuit against the map, asserting that it violated Proposition 4—a voter-approved law from 2018 aimed at preventing gerrymandering.

Third District Judge Dianna Gibson reviewed redistricting proposals submitted by both the legislature and the plaintiffs. With just minutes remaining before a court-imposed deadline, Judge Gibson selected the plaintiffs’ proposal, referred to as “map 1,” over the legislature’s “map C.” In her ruling, Gibson wrote that map C “fails in many ways to comply with Proposition 4” and found “substantial pro-Republican bias.”

The order was issued around 11:40 p.m. MST on Monday, just before the midnight deadline required for election officials to finalize a congressional map. The timing was crucial, as county clerks needed enough lead time to prepare for candidate filings in January.

The newly adopted map gives Democrats a realistic chance to capture at least one of Utah’s four seats in the House of Representatives. Currently, all four seats are held by Republicans; the last Democratic representative, Ben McAdams, lost his seat in 2021.

Utah House and Senate Democrats responded to the ruling with optimism, describing it as “a win for every Utahn.” In a statement after midnight, they said, “We took an oath to serve the people of Utah, and fair representation is the truest measure of that promise.”

The battle over Proposition 4 is not over. A group called Utahns for Representative Government is seeking to repeal the law by organizing a ballot initiative. They must collect at least 140,748 valid signatures from registered voters, with minimum signature requirements in 26 of Utah’s 29 Senate districts, in order to qualify for next November’s ballot. The organization was formed specifically to return redistricting authority to the legislature.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders have declared their intention to pursue the repeal of Proposition 4 and to appeal Judge Gibson’s decision. Some have even suggested the possibility of impeaching the judge.

As Utah prepares for the crucial 2024 elections, the ongoing debate over fair representation and redistricting promises to remain at the center of the state’s political discourse.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/11/11/judge-chooses-utah-redistricting-map-democrats/1851762876495/

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