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

Republican-led initiative to reverse 2018 voter-approved redistricting measure falls short of ballot qualification

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:18pm

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A Republican-led effort in Utah, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law has failed to make the November 2026 ballot. The initiative aimed to reverse a 2018 voter-approved measure that established an independent redistricting commission and banned drawing districts to favor one political party. Without the repeal, Utah's new congressional map, which gives Democrats a better chance of picking up a U.S. House seat in the Salt Lake City area, is likely to remain in place beyond this election cycle.

Why it matters

The failure of the GOP-backed initiative to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is a significant win for anti-gerrymandering advocates and could have implications for the national redistricting fight between Democrats and Republicans across the country. The new congressional map in Utah, drawn by the independent commission, is seen as more fair and balanced compared to the previous map drawn by the Republican-led state legislature.

The details

The Republican-led initiative, which had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, aimed to reverse a 2018 voter-approved measure in Utah that established an independent redistricting commission and banned drawing districts to deliberately favor one political party over another. A state judge ruled that the Republican-led state legislature violated those standards when it drew new congressional boundaries after the 2020 census, dividing the Democratic stronghold of Salt Lake City among all four House districts. The judge put in place a new map that gives Democrats a better chance of picking up a U.S. House seat this year.

  • The Republican-led initiative to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law failed to make the November 2026 ballot.
  • Utah voters approved Proposition 4, the anti-gerrymandering measure, in 2018.

The players

Better Boundaries

The nonprofit organization that led the signature removal push to prevent the Republican-backed initiative from qualifying for the ballot.

Elizabeth Rasmussen

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

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 the 2018 anti-gerrymandering measure when drawing new congressional boundaries.

Donald Trump

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

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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

What’s next

The Utah Republican Party has indicated that efforts to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law are "not over, but just beginning," suggesting they may pursue other avenues to challenge the law in the future.

The takeaway

The failure of the Republican-backed initiative to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is a significant victory for advocates of fair redistricting, and could have broader implications for the ongoing national battle over congressional maps. The new congressional districts in Utah, drawn by an independent commission, are seen as more balanced and representative of the state's political landscape.