UT Legislature Passes Map Creating 2 More Competitive Seats

Utah Lawmakers Passed a New Congressional Map on Monday, that presents Democrats with Two New Pickup Opportunities in the State, a Potential Win for the Party, as it tries to respond to Republican-backed Redistricting efforts Nationwide. The Map was drawn following a Federal Judge’s late-August Court Ruling, who Ruled the State’s previous Congressional Districts, as a Violation of a Voter-Approved Measure against Partisan Gerrymandering.

The Two Redrawn Districts, which are Significantly more Competitive than the State’s Current Formulation, still Favor Republicans and Trump (R) Won them Voth in 2024. One of the New Districts went for Trump by about 2 Percentage Points last year, and another by about 6 Percentage Points. The New Map has a Edge for Republicans, with the redrawn 3rd District at +6, and the 2nd District at +11.

It will still need Approval from the Judge to go into Effect for the Midterms. During Monday’s Special Session, the Republican-Controlled Legislature Passed a Bill Amending Proposition 4, the Ballot Initiative that Sparked the Redistricting, requiring the New Map to be Evaluated through Three Tests, including a “partisan bias test,” to ensure it Reflects Utah’s recent Electoral History. Some Democrats view it as a way to Obstruct the New Map from taking place. “I wonder if it’s just another delay tactic,” said Sen. Nate Blouin (D), who Voted against the Amendment.

The Amendment also sparked Backlash from Anti-Gerrymandering Groups. Elizabeth Rasmussen, Executive Director of Better Boundaries, said Her Organization is preparing Litigation against the Bill, alleging it goes “against what voters approved.”

Legislators weighed Six possible Maps proposed by a Committee, and they Selected the Map that was the Least Favorable for Democrats. Other Options would have created a more Continuous District out of Salt Lake County, the Blue Urban Center in an otherwise Red State, to Favor Democrats.

Still, Democrats are Enthused at the Possibility of Flipping a Seat in the State’s All-GOP Congressional Delegation. Former Rep. Ben McAdams (D), a Moderate who served a Term in Congress before His Ouster in 2021, is expected to Announce a Bid once a Map is Finalized.

Blouin, a Progressive State Senator who is weighing a Run, said His Decision depends on what the Final Map looks like, noting it is “still pretty unclear if the map the legislature passes will stick,” He said.

Democrats immediately said the Map does Not go Far Enough. “It is shameful that Republicans in the legislature are once again trying to cheat Utah voters,” John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a Statement. The Map Passed by the Legislature “does not meet the criteria established in the independent redistricting reforms that voters passed.”










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