Utah’s 2025 Redistricting ruling explained
In August 2025, Utah Judge Dianna Gibson ruled the state’s congressional districts were unconstitutional and must be redrawn by September 24th.
Utah’s current district map was drawn and approved by the state legislature in 2021 using data from the 2020 decennial census. These districts are considered safe or solidly Republican, with each GOP candidate winning nearly 60% or more of the vote in both 2022 and 2024.
In 2018, a ballot initiative that would create a new independent redistricting committee was narrowly passed by Utah voters. The initiative became known as Prop 4, and was led by a group named Better Boundaries.
They had major political and financial support, with a former Democrat Salt Lake City Mayor and a future Republican Congressman serving in leadership roles. Disclosure reports show the group raised more than $2.2 million in 2018, with 72% of those funds coming from out-of-state donors.
Yes, you read that right. $1.6 million was spent in 2018 by out-of-state donors to change Utah’s redistricting process.
Prop 4’s passage in 2018 did 2 main things:
It created an “Independent Commission” that would draw Utah’s congressional and legislative districts and submit them to the state legislature for consideration. The legislature could vote to reject these maps and draw their own, but they would be required to provide an explanation before they could draw their own maps.
It implemented stricter guidelines to prevent maps from purposefully carving up cities, towns, and counties
The legislature reacted to Prop 4’s passage by passing SB 200 in March 2020, reforming the redistricting commission’s influence and loosening the guidelines meant to prevent districts from breaking up cities. They argued the legislature holds the ultimate constitutional authority over Utah’s elections, and the redistricting commission’s maps should be seen as suggestions.
The independent redistricting commission met for the first time in 2021. Its 7 members were appointed by the governor and legislative party leaders.
Among the commissioners was former Republican Congressman Rob Bishop, who represented Utah’s 1st district for 18 years before retiring from Congress in 2021. Bishop would end up resigning from the commission before the maps were completed, arguing the commission’s members overrepresented Salt Lake & the urban centers in the Wasatch Front, stating “this commission is designed not to work.”
Former Congressman Rob Bishop abruptly quitting the redistricting commission
The commission submitted its maps in November 2021, which the legislature turned around and rejected days later, choosing instead to adopt its own maps later that month.
Judge Gibson’s ruling argues the legislature’s adoption of their own congressional map violated the will of the people by overriding Prop 4. It rejected the commission’s maps without offering a public explanation, and it purposefully carved up Salt Lake City.
Republican leaders condemned the ruling as judicial overreach and vowed to fight back. Regardless of what happens, Utah’s entrance into the 2026 congressional redistricting fight will most likely attract millions in out-of-state spending to influence our politics… something Utahns can’t get enough of.
