Utah's Supreme Court Upholds Congressional Map with Democratic-Leaning District

Ruling rejects appeal by Republican lawmakers to overturn the new district boundaries

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Utah's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Republican lawmakers and upheld a congressional map that gives Democrats a stronger chance of flipping one of the state's four Republican-held U.S. House seats. The new map keeps Salt Lake County largely within a single district, instead of dividing the heavily Democratic population center among all four districts as was previously the case.

Why it matters

The ruling is a victory for voting rights advocates who argued the previous map was gerrymandered to protect Republican interests. It also sets up a potential shift in Utah's congressional delegation, which has been entirely Republican since 2021.

The details

In November, a Utah judge adopted the new congressional map over one proposed by the Republican-led state legislature. GOP lawmakers appealed the decision, arguing the court lacked the authority to enact a map not approved by the legislature. However, the state Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, saying it did not have jurisdiction over the lawmakers' challenge.

  • The Utah Supreme Court rejected the appeal on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • The new congressional map was adopted in November 2025 after a judge struck down the previous map for gerrymandering.

The players

Utah Supreme Court

The highest court in the state of Utah, which rejected the appeal by Republican lawmakers to overturn the new congressional map.

Republican Lawmakers

A group of Utah state legislators who appealed the adoption of the new congressional map, arguing the court lacked authority to enact a map not approved by the legislature.

Katharine Biele

President of the League of Women Voters of Utah, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that challenged the previous gerrymandered congressional map.

Emma Petty Addams

Co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, another plaintiff in the lawsuit against the previous congressional map.

Stuart Adams

Republican Utah Senate President, who criticized the Supreme Court's ruling, saying the "chaos continues" and that the state will continue defending a process that "respects the Constitution."

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What they’re saying

“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, League of Women Voters of Utah

“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, Mormon Women for Ethical Government

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

— Stuart Adams, Republican Utah Senate President

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

This ruling is a victory for voting rights advocates who argued the previous congressional map in Utah was gerrymandered to protect Republican interests. It sets the stage for a potential shift in the state's congressional delegation, which has been entirely Republican since 2021.