A major lawsuit challenging the state’s congressional district map just got a ruling, knitting us into the national debate about gerrymandering in Texas and California. So, what does this mean for Utahns?
🗳️ What’s Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering happens when politicians draw voting maps to favor one party. In Utah, plaintiffs say lawmakers split up largely-Democratic Salt Lake County into four different districts, ensuring Republicans maintained all four of Utah’s seats in the U.S. House.
🏛️ Some Background
In 2018, Utah voters approved Proposition 4, creating an independent redistricting commission and adopting standards for drawing districts in order to prevent partisan gerrymandering.
In 2020, the legislature passed SB 200, stripping the commission of its authority and adopting legislative leaders’ preferred congressional map in 2021.
In 2022, groups including the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government sued the state of Utah, arguing lawmakers violated the state constitution by ignoring the will of voters and created an illegal partisan gerrymander. A lower court later dismissed the case.
In 2024, the Utah Supreme Court revived the case, ruling that certain voter-approved reforms are constitutionally protected from being overturned without a compelling reason.
⚖️ The Ruling
Which leads us to now. Judge Gibson ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, requiring a new congressional map and Proposition 4's standards for drawing it. The court wants the new map in 30 days, ahead of January candidate filings for the 2026 midterm election.
➡️ Next Steps
- A status conference is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29 where the judge will discuss next steps.
- The judge ordered the Legislature to submit a new congressional map by Wednesday, Sept. 24. Plaintiffs and other third parties may also submit alternatives if the map doesn't comply with Proposition 4.
In the meantime, social media feeds and group chats are gossiping about which Salt Lakers might run if a Democratic-leaning congressional seat emerges from all this.
