Utah Judge Strikes Down Gerrymandered Map

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

In a landmark victory for voters, a Utah judge struck down the state Legislature's gerrymandered congressional map and reinstated the citizen-led redistricting reforms voters approved in 2018. Judge Dianna Gibson ruled Monday that the Utah Legislature's repeal of Proposition 4 -- the voter-approved independent redistricting commission and anti-gerrymandering law " was unconstitutional.

Posted by qcp at 03:31 PM | 6 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

More: "Proposition 4 is the law in Utah on redistricting. H.B. 2004, the 2021 Congressional Map, which was not enacted under S.B. 200 and not Proposition 4, cannot lawfully govern future elections in Utah," Gibson wrote. "Use of H.B. 2004, the 2021 Congressional Map, in any future elections is hereby ENJOINED."

The ruling permanently blocks use of the GOP-drawn 2021 congressional map that split Salt Lake County into four districts, diluting the power of non-Republican voters.

"The Legislature intentionally stripped away all of Proposition 4's core redistricting standards and procedures that were mandatory and binding on it," Gibson added. "To permit the 2021 Congressional Plan to remain in place would reward the very constitutional violation this Court has already identified and would nullify the people's 2018 redistricting reform."

The court ordered lawmakers to redraw Utah's congressional districts under the rules of Proposition 4. They have until September 24 to deliver a compliant plan.

If they fail " or if the new map doesn't meet the law's standards " plaintiffs and other groups may submit their own maps for the court to consider.

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2025-08-26 09:47 AM | Reply

... "The Legislature intentionally stripped away all of Proposition 4's core redistricting standards and procedures that were mandatory and binding on it," Gibson added. "To permit the 2021 Congressional Plan to remain in place would reward the very constitutional violation this Court has already identified and would nullify the people's 2018 redistricting reform." ...

So, a Republican effort to have the politicians choose the voters (and not the voters choose the politicians) has been voided.

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-26 01:24 PM | Reply

So, a Republican effort to have the politicians choose the voters (and not the voters choose the politicians) has been voided.
#2 | Posted by LampLighter

Wonder if the CA proposition will suffer the same fate.

To be clear it turns out the redistricting was drawn by people that will directly benefit with votes from the new map.

Those people weren't even elected.

#3 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-26 02:12 PM | Reply

@#3 ... Wonder if the CA proposition will suffer the same fate. ...

False equivalence.

The CA measure is in response to Texas, and will need voter approval. Unlike Texas or Utah gerrymandering.

Also, the CA measure is self-voiding if the Texas measure is struck down, or otherwise does not take effect.

A Nice Try, though.

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-26 03:50 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

To be clear it turns out the redistricting was drawn by people that will directly benefit with votes from the new map.

To be clear you are just foreign agitator who doesn't really know what he is talking about nor does he care.

To be clearer ...

GFY commie lying ICEHOLE.

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-26 04:39 PM | Reply

The California prop will be put on the ballot and voted on by the people.

The Utah maps were not.

#6 | Posted by qcp at 2025-08-26 06:04 PM | Reply