DAVE & DUJANOVIC

Utah Legislature sued over allegedly unconstitutional gerrymandering

Apr 8, 2022, 4:47 PM

Gerrymandering Utah Prop 4...

Utah lawmakers and Better Boundaries Utah say they have reached a deal "in principal" on Proposition 4, also known as the anti-gerrymandering initiative. (File image)

(File image)

SALT LAKE CITY — Most Americans dislike gerrymandering and want the Supreme Court to fix it. In Utah, Republican lawmakers ignored political maps recommended by an independent commission created by voters and drew their own instead. A Utah group has now filed a lawsuit to stop the gerrymandering.

Katie Wright with Better Boundaries joined KSL NewsRadio’s Dave & Dujanovic to explain why her group is financially supporting plaintiffs, the League of Women Voters of Utah, and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, who are asking the court to throw out Utah’s newest congressional maps.

What is gerrymandering?

Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.

Photo credit: FairVote

bipartisan poll conducted by Democratic researcher Celinda Lake and Republican analyst Ashlee Rich Stephenson found that 71% of Americans would like the Supreme Court to define a standard that ends extreme partisan gerrymandering.

Support cuts across party lines. 80% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 65% of Republicans would back action by the court.

“When you have extreme partisanship, our elections aren’t competitive. The people who are elected sit well on one side of the political spectrum, and we see this outcome, which is nothing gets done,” Wright said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re blue, red or in-between.”

Background

Utah voters barely approved the Independent Redistricting Commission in 2018 when they passed Proposition 4, which Better Boundaries backed.

In 2020, the Legislature allowed the commission to recommend maps but lawmakers would still have the final say.

In November, the Legislature drew their own maps while ignoring the recommendations of the commission, splitting Salt Lake County, the state’s most populous area, into four congressional districts and setting the political boundaries for the next decade, according to Deseret News.

Politicians win and communities lose with gerrymandering

Wright said politicians are drawing maps to favor themselves and end up cutting up communities that should be kept whole.

“Right now we have a system where elected officials give themselves job-protection programs by drawing maps that make it very, very easy for them to get elected over and over again,” she said.

Dave pointed out that balancing all political affiliations in a specific district is difficult.

“The gerrymandering process, of course, it exists,” he said. “It exists from the Republican side and the Democratic side. The fact is, just because you don’t like my gerrymander, doesn’t mean your gerrymander is any less gerrymandered — if that makes sense.”

Related: Groups sue Utah Legislature, alleging unconstitutional gerrymandering

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.  

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Dave & Dujanovic

pets...

Curt Gresseth

Don’t surrender pets to a shelter. Send in a pro to reverse bad behavior, says Utah trainer

An expert discusses controlling the unwanted behavior of pets.

8 hours ago

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

8 hours ago

1040 form shown, tax refund season is here...

Sam Herrera

Should you spend or save your tax refund?

Filing your taxes can be a headache but figuring out how to spend your tax refund might be a headache in its own right.

1 day ago

A woman in SLC was a victim of a hit-and-run on March 11....

KSL NewsRadio

S.L. County DA says driver in hit-and-run crashes stalked victims

The Salt Lake County district attorney said the driver allegedly involved in a series of hit-and-run crashes intentionally targeted his female victims

2 days ago

The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple Townshi...

Curt Gresseth

Utah mom fears loss of followers and income if TikTok sold

A Utah TikTok creator talks about what banning the app in the U.S. would do to her family's primary source of income.

6 days ago

Join KSL NewsRadio live from Salt Lake County Animal Services on March 28, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 ...

Emily Ashmead

Tails of Hope: KSL NewsRadio live from Salt Lake County Animal Services

This special broadcast of Dave & Dujanovic will cover what changes will be made to Utah animal shelters to accommodate the newest regulations.

8 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Utah Legislature sued over allegedly unconstitutional gerrymandering