Utah's New Congressional Maps Shake Up Political Landscape

Expert says increased competition is a positive development for the state's political process.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:20am

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According to Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, Utah's redrawn congressional district maps have created new competitive dynamics heading into caucus season. Perry says the new maps have raised the stakes for voters and candidates alike, and that increased competition is a positive development for the state's political process.

Why it matters

The new congressional district maps in Utah have increased the importance of voter engagement and forced candidates to sharpen their positions on key issues. This could lead to a more policy-focused political landscape, rather than one dominated by party identity.

The details

The new congressional district maps have made Utah's 1st District very competitive, with the possibility of a Democrat being elected to Congress from that district. Perry says competitive races tend to shift the focus away from party identity and toward policy, which he views as a strength of the democratic process.

  • Utah's redrawn congressional district maps were released in 2026.

The players

Jason Perry

Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

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What they’re saying

“Competition is healthy. It's not a crisis. It's one of those very interesting things going into these caucuses, where we really do have one congressional district that will be very, very competitive, maybe even to one side. And so this is one of those opportunities here in the state of Utah where engagement is going to matter more than ever.”

— Jason Perry, Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics (fox13now.com)

“What quality of policy do we wind up with when we have competitive political races? This is one of the more interesting nuances of these races themselves is you have people and party, and sometimes that can be where the conversation stops. You identify with the party and so you vote with that party. What happens when you have a very competitive district is it really does become about the policy itself, which in my mind is the most important thing is you get to where they stand on these issues, and we have significant issues in the state of Utah, social issues, things dealing with the Great Salt Lake, with the state of Utah and its growth.”

— Jason Perry, Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics (fox13now.com)

What’s next

Utahns will participate in caucuses to select candidates for the new congressional districts, with the potential for a more competitive race in the 1st District.

The takeaway

The new congressional district maps in Utah have increased the importance of voter engagement and forced candidates to focus more on policy than party identity. This could lead to a healthier, more competitive political landscape in the state.