Judge rules Utah's congressional map must be redrawn for the 2026 elections
The Utah Legislature will need to rapidly redraw the state's congressional boundaries after a judge ruled they circumvented voter-approved redistricting safeguards.
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A Utah District Court judge has ruled that the state legislature illegally drew congressional district boundaries, effectively circumventing voter-approved safeguards against partisan gerrymandering. The current map, created in 2021, divides Salt Lake County among four Republican-controlled districts.
Judge Dianna Gibson declared the map unlawful because lawmakers weakened an independent redistricting commission that voters established in 2018. The legislature had repealed the initiative in 2020, making the commission merely advisory. New maps must be drawn quickly for the 2026 elections, though Republicans may appeal.
This creates uncertainty in a traditionally Republican state and represents a significant victory for voting rights advocates who opposed partisan manipulation of electoral boundaries.
Original Article
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