Utah GOP Blames Rep. Blake Moore for Gerrymandered Map

Republicans accuse the congressman of enabling a new blue district in Salt Lake City.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fractured, abstract painting of a Utah state capitol building or other political structure, repeated in overlapping geometric waves of muted earth tones and grays, conveying the chaotic and divisive nature of the gerrymandering battle.The partisan battle over redistricting in Utah has led to a gerrymandered congressional map that has angered Republicans and sparked a primary challenge against Rep. Blake Moore.Salt Lake City Today

Republican Utah Rep. Blake Moore is facing backlash from fellow party members who blame him for a gerrymandered congressional map that benefits Democrats. In 2018, Moore supported a ballot measure to limit gerrymandering, but the resulting redistricting process ultimately led to a new blue seat in Salt Lake City that Republicans failed to overturn. Now, Moore's GOP colleagues are gearing up for a primary challenge, accusing him of enabling the Democratic-leaning district.

Why it matters

The gerrymandered map has major implications for the balance of power in Congress, potentially handing Democrats an extra seat in a closely divided House of Representatives. The partisan battle over redistricting in Utah also highlights the ongoing national debate over gerrymandering and the role of independent commissions in the mapmaking process.

The details

In 2017, Moore joined the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries and helped establish an independent redistricting advisory commission through Proposition 4, which passed in 2018. However, when Republicans in the Utah state House tried to redraw the congressional map in 2025 to create four safely red districts, District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that they failed to comply with the new redistricting rules. Gibson opted for a different map that included a new blue seat in Salt Lake County, angering Republicans who have since failed to overturn the map.

  • In 2017, Moore joined the anti-gerrymandering group Better Boundaries.
  • In 2018, Proposition 4 passed, establishing an independent redistricting advisory commission.
  • In 2025, District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Republicans in the Utah state House failed to comply with the new redistricting rules.
  • In late March 2026, Republicans failed to overturn the gerrymandered map.

The players

Blake Moore

A Republican U.S. Representative from Utah who supported an anti-gerrymandering ballot measure in 2018, but is now facing backlash from fellow Republicans over the resulting congressional map.

Dianna Gibson

A District Judge in Utah who ruled in 2025 that Republicans in the state House failed to comply with new redistricting rules, leading to a map that included a new Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake County.

Don Guymon

The chair of the Davis County GOP in Moore's new district, who said the gerrymandered map is "a slap in the face" to long-serving Republican leaders.

Karianne Lisonbee

A former state Representative who is challenging Moore for his congressional seat, criticizing him for making it "easier for Democrats to take the House."

Tyler Bowyer

The COO of the conservative activist group Turning Point Action, which blamed "Salt Lake Blake" for the entire redistricting "mess."

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What they’re saying

“To a lot of the Republicans who have served for a long time and have been in leadership, like me, Prop 4 is a slap in the face. People are concerned, and I think we'll see whether they hold Blake accountable for that or not.”

— Don Guymon, Chair of the Davis County GOP

“What good is a leadership position when Blake made it easier for Democrats to take the House?”

— Karianne Lisonbee, Former state Representative

“We blame Salt Lake Blake for this entire mess.”

— Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action

What’s next

Republicans are gearing up for a primary challenge against Moore, hoping to hold him accountable for the gerrymandered map that benefits Democrats.

The takeaway

The partisan battle over redistricting in Utah highlights the ongoing national debate over gerrymandering and the role of independent commissions in the mapmaking process. The new Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake City could have major implications for the balance of power in Congress.