Utah Legislature Approves New Congressional Map Amid Controversy
The Utah Legislature, meeting in a special session, has adopted a new congressional map, dubbed "Option C," to be submitted to a district court judge for approval. This decision follows an August court ruling that invalidated the previous maps, stating they stemmed from an unconstitutional process. Republicans expressed their discontent with the court order and the short timeline imposed to redraw the maps before the 2026 midterm elections.
Republican Opposition and Concerns
Several Republican lawmakers voiced strong opposition to the court-ordered redistricting process. Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, a co-chair of the redistricting committee, stated that the legislature "fully intends" to appeal the ruling. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, criticized the rushed process, arguing it limited the opportunity for voters' voices to be heard. Some Republicans, like Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, voted against the new maps in protest, calling the process a "farce" and a "joke."
Democratic Concerns and "Option C"
Democrats have also raised concerns about "Option C," questioning its political impartiality and its potential to split communities of interest. The Utah Republican Party had urged voters to comment in favor of "Option C," arguing it was necessary to prevent a "blue takeover" in Washington, D.C. Democrats claim the new map still disadvantages their party, despite only splitting Salt Lake County twice, compared to the previous map's four-way split. Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, argued that even splitting Democrats into two districts can be as effective as splitting them into four if it prevents them from reaching a competitive level.
GOP Defense and Justification
GOP leaders on the committee maintained that they did not consider partisan comments when reviewing public submissions. Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, highlighted the map's distribution of military installations, while Sen. Don Ipson, R-St. George, said it "suits the people best" by maintaining a mix of urban and rural voters. The map was approved by the legislature mostly along party lines.
Reactions and Legal Challenges
Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Better Boundaries, expressed disappointment with the committee's recommendation. The process of redrawing the maps is the result of a court ruling that invalidated the post-2020 census maps. Lawmakers and plaintiffs had until recently to submit proposals, and the judge will decide which map will be used for the next elections. Republican lawmakers suggested they might take action against Judge Dianna Gibson if she selects a map other than the one they approved. A lawsuit has been filed challenging the new law. It argues that the new law was intended to ensure that only maps that favor Republicans could be enacted.
Changes to Redistricting Standards
Lawmakers also approved a bill establishing criteria to measure proposed maps against redistricting standards. Critics say the bill is flawed. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Brady Brammer, announced changes adding two tests – ensemble analysis and the mean-median difference test. He said the changes will "ensure the analysis of maps is more robust." However, Rasmussen remains opposed to the bill because it includes the partisan bias test.
Other Legislative Actions
The Utah lawmakers also approved a bill granting the governor power to appoint the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The bill passed on mostly partisan lines. The Legislature also addressed issues concerning berm management of the Great Salt Lake and the acceptance of federal funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. They additionally passed HB 1004 regarding the classification and retention of election records.
Legal Tests for Gerrymandering
Proposition 4 said a judge can consider “the best available data and scientific and statistical methods, including measures of partisan symmetry,” without naming specific tests. Now a new law only allows three tests:
| Test | Description |
|---|---|
| Partisan symmetry | Predicts whether a minority party would win a similar number of seats as the majority if voting results were reversed. |
| Mean-median test | The average percentage of votes a party received statewide should be close to what the median results would be in a proposed new district. |
| Ensemble test | Looks at the expected results from 4,000 districts drawn by an algorithm. If the adopted map is an extreme outlier, it would fail the test. |
Partisan Reactions
Democrats from both chambers have expressed their opposition to the new map. Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, said the litigation is necessary because the trio of tests “is not part of Proposition 4.” As Sen. Brady Brammer casted a vote for the map, he warned about malfeasance in office if a map that hasn't been approved by the Legislature is adopted. Speaker Mike Schultz echoed this sentiment saying “The Legislature will do all we can to protect the power given to it in the constitution in Article 9. Nowhere in the constitution does it allow for a judge to be able to pick a map, and we will adamantly defend that to whatever means necessary.”
This redistricting battle in Utah comes during a national debate over redistricting, with other states considering similar actions. The outcome in Utah could have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
