Trump-backed effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law fails

The Republican-led initiative to overturn the state's redistricting rules fell short of the ballot threshold

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Republican-led effort in Utah to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law, which was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has failed to make the November ballot. The initiative aimed to reverse a 2018 measure passed by Utah voters that established an independent redistricting commission and banned drawing districts that favor one political party over another. But the GOP's multimillion-dollar signature gathering campaign fell below the threshold needed to qualify for the ballot this year.

Why it matters

The failure of the repeal effort means Utah's new congressional map, which gives Democrats a high likelihood of picking up a U.S. House seat in the Salt Lake City area, is likely to remain in place beyond this election cycle. The outcome is a win for anti-gerrymandering advocates and a setback for Republican efforts to redraw district boundaries to their advantage in several states.

The details

A state judge ruled that the Republican-led state Legislature violated the standards of Utah's anti-gerrymandering law when it drew boundaries after the 2020 census that divided the Democratic stronghold of Salt Lake City among all four House districts. The judge put in place a new map that gives Democrats a prime opportunity to pick up a seat this year. Repealing the law would have allowed Republicans to enact a more favorable congressional map ahead of the 2028 elections.

  • In 2018, Utah voters approved Proposition 4, which established an independent redistricting commission and banned gerrymandering.
  • After the 2020 census, the Republican-led state Legislature drew new congressional boundaries that a judge ruled violated the anti-gerrymandering law.
  • The Republican effort to repeal the anti-gerrymandering law failed to gather enough signatures to make the November 2026 ballot.

The players

Better Boundaries

The nonprofit that led the signature removal push to block the Republican effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law.

Elizabeth Rasmussen

The executive director of Better Boundaries, who celebrated the outcome of the failed repeal effort.

Rob Axson

The chair of the Utah Republican Party, who said efforts to repeal the anti-gerrymandering law are "not over, but just beginning."

Dianna Gibson

The state judge who ruled that the Republican-led state Legislature violated the standards of Utah's anti-gerrymandering law when it drew new congressional boundaries.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who endorsed the Republican-led effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A majority of Utah voters approved Prop 4 in 2018, and we look forward to the day when Utah voters can finally pick their politicians, not the other way around.”

— Elizabeth Rasmussen, Executive Director, Better Boundaries

“We have significant concerns about the practices utilized by the opposition and continue to review the signature validation and removal process.”

— Rob Axson, Chair, Utah Republican Party

The takeaway

The failure of the Republican-led effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is a victory for advocates of fair redistricting and a setback for GOP attempts to redraw congressional maps to their advantage in several states. It means Utah's new congressional boundaries, which give Democrats a better chance of winning a House seat in Salt Lake City, are likely to remain in place beyond this election cycle.