Utah judge demands state redistrict congressional map—claims current borders favor GOP

Judge Dianna Gibson, who was appointed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert in 2018, serves over the Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties in Utah, and wrote in a 76-page decision that the legislature must pass a "remedial congressional map" before the end of September.

The decision stems from a challenge that was brought by the group known as the "Mormon Women for Ethical Government" (MWEG). The group is not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes known as the Mormon church), but members of the group often spend time bashing Utah Senator Mike Lee, Elon Musk, and President Trump on social media. The group has reportedly removed a member for not being critical enough of conservative opinions despite church members being a reliable voting bloc for the GOP.

GOP lawmakers plan to appeal the decision and could possibly send the case to the Supreme Court, per Fox News. Trump wrote of the decision from the judge on Truth Social, "Monday’s Court Order in Utah is absolutely Unconstitutional. How did such a wonderful Republican State like Utah, which I won in every Election, end up with so many Radical Left Judges? All Citizens of Utah should be outraged at their activist Judiciary, which wants to take away our Congressional advantage, and will do everything possible to do so. This incredible State sent four great Republicans to Congress, and we want to keep it that way. The Utah GOP has to STAY UNITED, and make sure their four terrific Republican Congressmen stay right where they are!"

Lee shared the post, adding, "Trump’s right—they’re trying to disregard the law and the Constitution to turn Utah blue We can’t let that happen Legislative districts are supposed to be drawn by state legislatures, not unelected 'independent commissions' designed to give Democrats an edge."

The challenge from the MWEG stems from redistricting changes that took place in 2018, where voters passed Prop 4, also known as the "Better Boundaries" initiative. The initiative then appointed an commission to oversee a congressional map drawing. However, that drawing was later overridden by the legislature, with Utah politicians now citing the state Constitution, which reads, "No later than the annual general session next following the Legislature's receipt of the results of an enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the Legislature shall divide the state into congressional, legislative, and other districts accordingly."

The map from the legislature split the Democrat-run capital of the state, Salt Lake City, into four portions, which the MWEG claimed in their challenge was illegally passed.

The dispute over Utah's redistricting comes against a backdrop of Republican and Democrat-led states vying to redraw congressional maps in hopes of gaining more seats in Congress. The Texas legislature has passed a map that may give five more seats to the GOP come 2026. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has launched an effort to redraw the blue state's congressional maps as well.