The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 13, 2025
In October, the Utah legislature proposed yet another gerrymandered Congressional map which violated state constitutional rules for redistricting. Nov. 10th, the judge overseeing the case rejected the legislature’s map, choosing a constitutionally-compliant one instead.
Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson gave the legislature an opportunity to create a compliant map in September. In October, the legislature and the Utah GOP proposed their Option C, which failed to follow criteria set out in Better Boundaries Proposition 4, a 2018 constitutional amendment approved by Utah voters.
Proposition 4 established a citizen-led independent redistricting commission and set fair redistricting criteria. After the citizen-led commission passed fair maps, the legislature passed legislation to neutralize the independent commission and passed its own gerrymandered maps, which the Utah Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in 2024, sending it back to district court to remediate.
Nov. 10th, Judge Gibson rejected Option C as not constitutionally compliant. She also rejected the legislature’s SB 1011 attempting to override the Proposition 4 rules, writing that it, “violates the people’s fundamental right to alter or reform their government under the Utah Constitution.” Gibson chose a congressional map drawn using the Proposition 4 criteria, submitted by the League of Women Voters Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Barring further challenges, it will be in place for the 2026 midterm.
We have the decision linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Utah Voters Fought Back After Their Fair Voting Districts Constitutional Amendment was Gutted by an Anti-Voter Legislature. They Won.
American Democracy Minute – After Losing in Court and at the Polls, Utah Legislature Approves Nov. Ballot Measure to Veto or Alter Citizen Ballot Measures to Protect Its Power
American Democracy Minute – Judge Orders Utah to Immediately Draw New Congressional Map, After the Legislature Circumvented the Voters – and the State Constitution
Utah News Dispatch – Redistricting ruling: Utah judge picks plaintiffs’ congressional map, blocks Legislature’s
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters UT, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Campaign Legal Center
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #Utah #BetterBoundariesUT #Proposition4 #Utah #LWVUT #FairMaps