Utah has a new congressional map after a state judge late Monday night rejected a proposal from Republican state legislators and instead chose one that would give Democrats a prime pickup opportunity in next year’s midterm elections.
Plaintiffs in the case had argued that Utah’s current GOP-drawn map did not comply with state law that allows for an independent redistricting process. On an order by Judge Dianna Gibson, Republican state legislators approved new lines last month that would have left their party favored in all four of Utah’s congressional districts but given Democrats a chance to flip at least one of them.
Gibson instead opted for a map proposed by the plaintiffs, which would create a new Salt Lake City-based seat, numbered the 1st District, that Kamala Harris would have carried by 24 points last year, according to calculations by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.
