Well, well, well — it appears Utah Republicans are showing they’ve got a spine, and not a moment too soon.
After a highly controversial court ruling tossed out their carefully drawn congressional map, GOP leaders in Utah are pushing back — and not just in the courtroom. They're taking the fight to the ballot box and laying the groundwork for a long-term strategy that could reshape the state’s political map for years to come.
It all started when Utah District Court Judge Dianna Gibson rejected Map C, the Republican-approved congressional map. Instead, she endorsed a map created by plaintiffs from the League of Women Voters and Mormon Women for Ethical Government — one that just happens to produce a heavily Democrat-leaning district in a state where Democrats typically struggle to win statewide races. It’s the kind of “reform” that looks a lot like political engineering dressed up in legalese.
Dems score huge redistricting victory in Utah, as judge overrules GOP legislature and orders a map w/ a new Harris +24 #UT01, guaranteeing Dems a one seat pickup. https://t.co/gtu8WbEr7s pic.twitter.com/rxacR3JQqL
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 11, 2025
Judge Gibson’s ruling claims the GOP-drawn map violated redistricting rules laid out in Proposition 4, a 2018 voter-approved measure meant to establish neutral redistricting standards. The judge said the map was drawn to “favor Republicans,” and therefore failed to meet the law’s requirements. But here’s the twist: the alternative map — the one now approved — also favors a political outcome, just in the other direction. The court’s decision didn’t remove politics from the redistricting process. It just picked a different winner.
Now, Utah Republicans aren’t taking this lying down. Last Friday, Judge Gibson opened the door for an appeal to the Utah Supreme Court, acknowledging that her decision deserves swift and serious review. But with time running out before the 2026 election, GOP leaders are taking a parallel route — launching an effort to repeal the very anti-gerrymandering clause that made this ruling possible.
The proposed ballot initiative would allow redistricting to once again be handled with full legislative authority, removing the legal handcuffs currently binding lawmakers. Utah Republicans are collecting signatures now, and while reports vary on their progress, GOP Chair Rob Axson says they’re approaching halfway to their goal of nearly 141,000 signatures.
It’s a bold move. And it’s being backed by national players, including Trump-aligned groups like Turning Point USA and Securing American Greatness Inc. — a sign that the Utah map fight is no longer a local squabble, but part of a bigger national war for redistricting control.
Let’s hope the rest of the party is paying attention.