The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 9, 2025
Utah voters are back on a path to fair maps, as a state circuit court judge ruled Congressional districts must be redrawn by September 25th. The state’s supreme court ruled last summer that the legislature’s attempt at circumventing a citizen-led independent redistricting commission by passing contrary state statutes was unconstitutional.
In 2018, Utah voters approved Better Boundaries Proposition 4, establishing a commission independent from the legislature charged with creating fair, communities of interest-driven maps for Congress, state legislature, and school districts.
Ignoring the voters, the GOP-dominated legislature passed laws to make the commission “advisory” instead of independent, and gerrymandered the maps anyway. When the state supreme court ruled the legislature couldn’t overrule the voters, lawmakers proposed Amendment D to give it that authority. Its language was later ruled “deceptive.”
August 25th, Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson ordered the legislature to create Congressional districts by September 25th, using the fair maps criteria as approved by the voters, to be reviewed by the court by November 10th. The maps will be in place for the 2026 midterms.
While the redistricting will take place in a climate of blindly partisan gerrymandering in other states, the Utah News Dispatch reports that Utah’s GOP leadership will begrudgingly comply with the court’s order.
We have the judge’s order and more at AmericanDemocracyminute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Will Utah’s Voter-Approved Independent Redistricting Commission and Fair Maps Prevail Over the Legislature’s Attempt to Rig Them?
Utah News Dispatch – Judge orders Utah Legislature to draw new congressional maps
Utah 3rd District Court (via Mormon Women for Ethical Government) – Ruling and Order in League of Women Voters v. Utah Legislature
The Hill – Utah is the surprise redistricting state: What to know
Utah News Dispatch – GOP legislative leaders begrudgingly say they’ll redraw Utah’s congressional map, as court ordered
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters UT, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Campaign Legal Center, Better Boundaries UT
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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