The red state of Utah is emerging as a rare bright spot for the Democratic Party’s redistricting wars, which have, until now, hinged on a California special election.
With Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) signing Texas’s new map into law, Democrats now face an uphill battle to regain the five additional GOP seats they will likely lose in the Lone Star State’s delegation. Hanging in the balance is the House majority, which Democrats only need a net gain of three seats to flip.
Their best bet to pick up seats after Texas’s redistricting, at first, was in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has called a special election in November seeking voters’ approval to circumvent the state’s independent redistricting commission and allow the Democratic-led state legislature to redraw districts. A new map would likely attempt to force out Reps. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Ken Calvert (R-CA).
But then a ruling dropped in Utah, thrusting the Beehive State into the redistricting battle erupting around the country.
A district judge ruled that the Republican-controlled legislature drew districts counter to state law and ignored the independent redistricting commission established to prevent partisan gerrymandering.
“Redistricting is not a mere exercise in political line-drawing; it strikes at the very heart of our democracy,” Judge Dianna M. Gibson wrote in her ruling.
The judge ordered that the map be redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Though Utah is a predominantly Republican state that voted for President Donald Trump by over 20 points in 2024, Democrats are seeing a glimmer of hope taking root in Salt Lake County.
