Utah Legislature passes new congressional map in special session

SALT LAKE CITY — On Monday, the Utah Legislative Redistricting Committee reduced the number of maps on the table to one, recommending Map C as the state's new congressional map. Hours later, the Utah Legislature agreed in a vote. Monday's vote was cast during a special session that Gov. Spencer Cox called on Friday. The map was one of six proposed by the committee; five by GOP committee chairs and one by Democrats. The map was passed along with SB1011, which Cox then signed into law hours later.This comes after a judge invalidated the current congressional map, launching a rare mid-decade redistricting process to create a new one before next year's election. Republican legislators oversaw that process while noting they disagree with the judge's decision and plan to appeal it. The issue goes back to 2018 when Utah voters narrowly approved Proposition 4, which created an independent redistricting commission to redraw congressional maps and new standards to follow during that process. However, lawmakers later changed Proposition 4 by making its role advisory, and they adopted new congressional maps in 2021 that ignored the commission's suggestions. The following year, several groups sued, arguing that lawmakers violated Utahns' rights to participate in free elections. On Monday, committee co-chairs Sen. Scott Sandall and Rep. Candice Pierucci gave statements after the vote: “Despite a condensed timeline," Sandall said, "our committee remained committed to transparency and public engagement. The approved map adheres to Proposition 4 requirements and reflects the diversity of Utah by ensuring every district includes both rural and urban communities. Redistricting is the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility, and we continue to prioritize fair maps that give every Utahn a strong, equal voice in Congress.” “Every Utahn — whether from a rural community, an urban neighborhood, or a small town — deserves a strong voice in Washington D.C.,” Pierucci said. “The approved map ensures that each member of Congress represents all Utah families, whether they live in rural Utah or along the Wasatch Front. Redistricting is, and always has been, the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility, and we hope the courts will respect and uphold that responsibility.” Likewise, Better Boundaries, a strong challenger of the proposed maps by Utah republicans also issued a statement:

We are disappointed the Legislature passed both SB1011 and Map C, missing an opportunity to rebuild trust with voters. When politicians control redistricting, there is always an incentive to protect power. That is why Utah voters passed Proposition 4 to create fair standards and measures that could evolve as data and technology changed. Map C demonstrates how the core principles of Proposition 4 are being sidestepped. Proposition 4 called for fairness measured by the best available tools and data, transparency in how maps are drawn, and accountability to voters rather than political interests. Those principles have been replaced with a narrow set of tests that define fairness in limited terms and make it easier for lawmakers to say a map is technically fair even when broader evidence shows it’s not. The tactics have changed, but the result is the same – a map that serves those in power instead of the voters they represent. Better Boundaries will keep working to ensure Utah’s maps serve voters, not politicians. We will stay engaged as the court continues to review Utah’s redistricting process and will keep advocating for fairness, transparency, and accountability so Utahns can have confidence that their voices matter.

The Legislature said the map will be submitted to the court later on Monday.

This story was updated with more information after publication.

Contributing:Daniel Woodruff, KSL TV

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