Utah congressional delegation in ‘watch and wait’ mode as maps are redrawn

WASHINGTON — The Utah delegation has remained relatively quiet as the state Legislature begins the process of redrawing its congressional map, possibly altering the lawmakers’ districts and putting some of their reelection bids at risk.

The four-member House delegation from Utah has not responded publicly to 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson’s ruling that the state illegally gerrymandered its current districts and must change them before the next election. But in conversations with the Deseret News, the lawmakers have indicated they’re taking a “watch and see” approach before weighing in on proposed changes.

 

“The Constitution is very clear that the state Legislature is the one to determine those maps, and I understand the referendum and how that process is unfolding,” Rep. Mike Kennedy, who represents Utah’s 3rd District, told the Deseret News in an interview. “I’ll just turn it over to the Legislature and the legal process to unfold as it may.”

Under Gibson’s ruling, the state Legislature has until Sept. 25 to submit a new map that adheres to anti-gerrymandering rules passed under Proposition 4, a citizen-led ballot initiative passed in 2018 that established an independent redistricting commission. That panel was largely overruled by the state Legislature in 2021 when it approved its own congressional boundaries, resulting in the yearslong lawsuit.

Altering the lines could put a larger portion of Salt Lake City into one district rather than the current map that has it divided between the four congressional districts. If that happens, Democrats argue the seat could be up for grabs — and give them an opportunity to flip a key district as they battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats are likely envisioning a map where Utah’s 4th District, currently held by Rep. Burgess Owens and rated as an R+14 seat, encompasses a majority of Salt Lake City — similar to how it did before the new boundaries were established in 2022.

That could thrust Owens into a tight race similar to his first election in 2020 when he narrowly defeated former Rep. Ben McAdams by less than 1 percentage point.

Owens told the Deseret News he is still waiting to see what happens but declined to weigh in, similar to Reps. Blake Moore, whose office declined to comment, and Celeste Maloy, whose office did not respond to a request for comment.

Owens has previously defended the current maps, telling the Deseret News last month he is “proud to represent a district that includes both urban and rural communities.”

“(It’s a) mix that makes our delegation stronger and our representation better,” Owens said. “Serving such a broad range of priorities sharpens our focus and deepens our impact. States — and their democratically elected officials — should decide how they are represented in Congress, not Washington.”

The map fight in Utah comes amid a larger national redistricting fight between Texas and California, with other states preparing to enter the fold.

Democrats only need to net three seats in the 2026 midterm elections to wrest control of the House. The party also has historical precedence on its side as trends show that the party of the sitting president typically loses control of the House during midterm elections.