Utah leaders contemplate new congressional maps after judge’s ruling on redistricting

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah leaders will now have to scramble to redraw and approve a new congressional map after a judge tossed out the current one on Monday.

The judge’s decision had to do with the Republican-led state legislature ignoring the maps proposed by an independent commission, which was approved by the voters.

House Minority Leader Angela Romero is praising the judge’s ruling. She said on Midday with Maria Shilaos that she is hopeful the new maps will create more fair representation.

“We can’t manipulate maps to entrench our power,” Romero said. “We’re seeing what’s going on in Texas; we’re seeing what California is doing in reaction, and this is just not the country I want to live in.”

The current map splits Salt Lake County between Utah’s four congressional districts. Some believe this breaks up an area that may be more competitive into four districts that all skew heavily Republican. However, Utah GOP Chair Robert Axson tells Inside Sources he believes the current maps are an accurate representation of Utahns as a whole.

“Our state’s legislature, in adopting maps that allowed for both rural and urban representation in all four of our congressional districts, was to Utah’s benefit,” Axson stated. “[It ensures] that we have the individuals, the men and women that are sent back to DC, equipped with the ability to represent our state.”

Axson pushed back on the idea that the Utah legislature engaged in gerrymandering when they issued the current maps back in 2021.

“It’s easy for folks to say, ‘Oh, now we get to get rid of gerrymandered maps.’ Look at Utah’s congressional maps. You can’t honestly say that those are gerrymandered,” Axson said. “They’re pretty straightforward. These are not convoluted, odd-shaped districts.”

Congressional map appeal likely to come

Legal experts say the legislature will likely file an appeal in a matter of days.

State Senator Todd Weiler tells Inside Sources he thinks there will be a clearer picture of what will happen very soon.

“My guess is that they’ll ask [District Court Judge Dianna] Gibson on Friday to stay her ruling,” Weiler speculated. “If she declines, then I think there will be some type of emergency petition to the Utah Supreme Court asking them to issue a stay.”

Weiler says stays are pretty common and would put the ruling on hold. If that does not happen, lawmakers have 30 days to draw and consider new maps. However, he says it is closer to 20 days because the proposed maps will need a 10-day period for public comment.

This all needs to be done so the new map will be in place ahead of the 2026 midterm election.