A judge on Monday ordered the Utah legislature to redraw its congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections, ruling that the state unlawfully gerrymandered its maps to favor Republicans.
Judge Dianna Gibson’s 76-page order requires lawmakers to submit a “remedial congressional map” by the end of September. Utah legislators have already indicated plans to appeal, suggesting the case could reach the Utah Supreme Court and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court.
Gibson’s decision follows high-profile battles over gerrymandering in states like Texas and California. Gerrymandering involves altering congressional district lines to benefit one political party, a practice critics say undermines voter influence.
The lawsuit in Utah stems from redistricting efforts that began in 2018. That year, voters approved Proposition 4, the “Better Boundaries” initiative, creating an independent commission to oversee the redistricting process.
Two years later, the state legislature passed a bill that effectively nullified the commission’s authority, reducing it to an advisory role. Lawmakers then bypassed the commission entirely, approving congressional maps widely seen as benefiting Republicans.
The new map divided Salt Lake City into four districts, a move challenged by voting rights groups such as the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. The groups argued the plan illegally fragmented Utah’s only blue-leaning urban area, violating Proposition 4 standards.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, warned ahead of Gibson’s ruling that so-called “independent commissions” often serve as a strategy for Democrats to gain influence.
“We the people need to halt this trend. To do so, we must first grasp what these independent commissions truly represent,” Lee wrote on X. “In a state like Utah, they’re essentially a mechanism for the left to grab power they can’t get through democratic elections.”
The Utah redistricting clash comes as Texas lawmakers recently approved maps favoring Republicans in the 2025 midterms. President Donald Trump backed the changes, calling them a “BIG WIN,” while state Democrats temporarily left Texas in protest.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, responded by proposing a rapid revision of his state’s independently drawn map and calling for a special election to counter Republican gains in Texas. During a press conference, Newsom said Democrats must “play hardball” to compete against a Republican Party led by Trump. Trump announced plans to sue Newsom over the move.
