A Utah judge on Monday rejected a Republican-approved congressional map in favor of an alternative that will create a Democratic-leaning district in the Beehive State.
Third District Judge Dianna Gibson wrote in her ruling that the map, which had a finalizing deadline on Monday, “does not comply with Utah law,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The map advanced by GOP lawmakers, she added, was built off of partisan data and included “extreme” gerrymandering.
Gibson ruled in favor of updated district lines drawn by the plaintiffs, the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. This map splits Utah County into two districts and forms a district in the northern part of Salt Lake County. This will give the state its first Democratic-favored district in a quarter century.
The League of Women Voters submitted a map under the requisites set by Proposition 4, which Utah voters helped make legal in 2018. The law prohibits partisan data from being used to draw up congressional maps.
Utah Republicans have filed to gather enough signatures in order to repeal Proposition 4, the Tribune wrote. Even if they garner 141,000 signatures, the repeal vote would be on the ballot next November but would not have an impact on the midterm election.
Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Gibson rejected a “partisan, gerrymandered map” and “reaffirmed that power should firmly belong to the people.”
“Utahns made it clear nearly seven years ago when they passed Prop 4: they want fair maps that reflect their communities,” DelBene said in a statement. “…Make no mistake: Across the country, Republicans are rigging congressional maps because they can’t defend their toxic record to gut health care and raise costs for families — all to deliver tax cuts to the wealthy and well-connected.”
Gibson’s ruling gave Utah Senate and House Democrats “a deep sense of hope and relief,” according to a joint statement shared early Tuesday morning.
“This is a win for every Utahn,” the statement reads. “We took an oath to serve the people of Utah, and fair representation is the truest measure of that promise.”
Utah’s redistricting battle comes months after President Trump ordered Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps to ensure the GOP upholds the House majority next year. Texas was first to redraw its maps, with the GOP-led state legislature submitting the map to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to sign into law in September.
California retaliated with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) push for a state measure that would redraw the Golden State’s maps and give the blue state as many as five more possible Democratic representatives. This measure, Proposition 50, was approved by voters on Nov. 4 as a counter to the Texas effort.
Caroline Vakil contributed.
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