Utah's Supreme Court Rejects Appeal to Overturn Congressional Map with Democratic-Leaning District

The court's decision leaves in place a map that gives Democrats a stronger chance to flip a Republican-held U.S. House seat in the state.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Utah's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Republican lawmakers and left in place a congressional map that gives Democrats a high chance of picking up one of the state's four Republican-held U.S. House seats in the fall. The approved map keeps Salt Lake County almost entirely within one district, instead of dividing the heavily Democratic population center among all four districts as was previously the case.

Why it matters

The redistricting battle in Utah is part of a broader national fight over congressional maps, with President Donald Trump urging Republican-led states to take up mid-decade redistricting to try to help the GOP retain control of the House in 2026. The court's decision is seen as an important check on the Republican-led state legislature's efforts to protect its political power.

The details

In November, a Utah judge adopted a congressional map creating a Democratic-leaning district, overriding a map poised to protect all four of the state's U.S. House seats held by Republicans. Republican lawmakers appealed the decision, arguing the court does not have legal authority to enact a map that wasn't approved by the legislature. However, the state's Supreme Court rejected the appeal, explaining that they do not have jurisdiction over the lawmakers' appeal.

  • In August, Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the Utah congressional map adopted after the 2020 census because the Legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.
  • On Friday, February 21, 2026, the Utah Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Republican lawmakers.

The players

Utah Supreme Court

The state's highest court that rejected the appeal by Republican lawmakers to overturn the congressional map with a Democratic-leaning district.

Republican Lawmakers

Utah state legislators who appealed the decision to adopt a congressional map that gives Democrats a stronger chance of flipping a Republican-held U.S. House seat.

Judge Dianna Gibson

The Utah judge who in August 2025 struck down the state's congressional map adopted after the 2020 census, finding that the legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.

League of Women Voters of Utah

A plaintiff in the lawsuit that challenged the Republican-drawn congressional map, applauding the court's decision to dismiss the appeal.

Mormon Women for Ethical Government

Another plaintiff in the lawsuit that challenged the Republican-drawn congressional map, stating the court's decision affirmed the people's constitutional right to alter and reform their government.

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What they’re saying

“We will keep defending a process that respects the Constitution and ensures Utah voters across our state have their voices respected.”

— Stuart Adams, Utah Republican Senate President (Breitbart)

“We are encouraged that the court dismissed this improper appeal and allowed the process to move forward without disruption to voters or election administrators.”

— Katharine Biele, President of the League of Women Voters of Utah (Breitbart)

“The courts have provided an important check on the Legislature, affirming the people's constitutional right to alter and reform their government.”

— Emma Petty Addams, Co-executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (Breitbart)

What’s next

There is another appeal pending in federal court that was spearheaded by two of the state's Republican members of Congress. The lawsuit filed in February argues the state judge violated the U.S. Constitution by rejecting the congressional districts drawn by the Republican-led state Legislature.

The takeaway

The Utah redistricting battle highlights the ongoing national fight over congressional maps, with both parties jockeying to gain political advantage. The court's decision to uphold the map with a Democratic-leaning district is seen as an important check on efforts by Republican state legislators to protect their party's power.