Federal court rejects GOP-led Utah Legislature’s latest try to block House map that helps Democrats

Federal Court Upholds New Utah Voting Districts Favoring Democrats

A federal court ruled Monday that Utah can use newly established voting districts for the 2022 election, rejecting a Republican request to block the map that gives Democrats a better chance of winning a U.S. House seat. The decision marks the second significant setback for Republicans in recent days, who also lost an appeal in Utah’s state Supreme Court.

The redistricting battle began last November when Utah Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the congressional districts that had been created by the Republican-dominated Legislature following the 2020 census. Gibson determined that lawmakers had violated voter-approved standards against partisan gerrymandering that were established in 2018, and imposed a new map in their place.

The revised districts notably keep Salt Lake County, a Democratic stronghold, largely intact within a single district. Previously, this heavily Democratic area was split among all four congressional districts, effectively diluting Democratic voting power across the state. The map was originally submitted to the court by the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, who had challenged the Legislature’s districts.

“We’re pleased that the court protected the fair map,” said Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah. “We only wish that the future attempts to undermine this fair map would cease, so we could focus on what is important to Utahns.”

Earlier this month, Republican U.S. Representatives Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens, along with nearly a dozen local officials, filed a federal lawsuit claiming the state judge lacked legal authority to implement a map without legislative approval. However, a three-judge federal panel denied their request for a preliminary injunction, noting both that their arguments were unlikely to succeed and that the timing made intervention impractical.

The court pointed to the imminent election schedule, with Utah’s congressional candidate filing period opening March 9, party caucuses scheduled for March 17, and state party conventions set for April 25. Some candidates have already launched their campaigns.

“An active primary is ongoing, and the election has drawn too close for the court to get involved,” the court wrote in its decision. “The possibility of voter confusion is a considerable risk were the panel to enjoin the current election map.”

The plaintiffs issued a joint statement expressing “profound disappointment but respect for the court’s careful review.”

Utah’s redistricting controversy reflects a broader national battle over congressional maps ahead of crucial midterm elections. Former President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states including Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina to redraw their districts to favor GOP candidates in November. Democratic-led states such as California and Virginia have responded with their own redistricting plans aimed at maximizing their party’s representation.

The stakes are particularly high in Utah, where Republicans currently hold all four U.S. House seats. The new map improves Democratic prospects by concentrating rather than diluting Democratic votes, potentially altering the state’s congressional delegation for the first time in years.

Despite this legal setback, Republicans in Utah continue pursuing other avenues to challenge the new districts. A Republican-backed group recently submitted petition signatures seeking to place a measure on the November ballot that would eliminate both the independent redistricting commission and the provision against partisan gerrymandering that voters approved in 2018.

This ongoing struggle highlights the intensifying partisan conflict over electoral boundaries, with both sides recognizing how critical district lines can be in determining who controls the U.S. House of Representatives. For Utah voters, particularly those in Salt Lake County, the court’s decision means they will head to the polls this November under district lines markedly different from those used in previous elections.