VICTORY: Utahns Will Have Fair Map in Place for 2026 Midterms

SALT LAKE CITY — On February 20, 2026, the Utah Supreme Court dismissed an eleventh-hour challenge by the Utah Legislature, which sought to block Utah’s law requiring fair maps and revive a gerrymandered map for the fall congressional election. 

Campaign Legal Center, on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Utah (LWVUT), Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) and individual Utah voters, initially challenged the Utah Legislature’s repeal of Proposition 4 — a ballot initiative passed by Utah voters in 2018 that prohibits partisan gerrymandering by establishing the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission and creating fair, neutral criteria and procedures for adopting district maps. The gerrymandered map passed by the Legislature in 2021 was challenged as well.

In November 2025, the court ordered Utah to use the map that plaintiffs, represented by Campaign Legal Center, submitted for consideration after the Legislature passed yet another illegally gerrymandered map. In January 2026, the Legislature filed an appeal to the Utah Supreme Court and asked the Court to block the lower court’s order that reimposed Proposition 4 and invalidated the 2021 map.

The court ruled that the Legislature had missed its deadlines to appeal and must instead wait until the case reaches final judgment as a result. Today’s decision follows a series of rulings by Utah state courts that have repeatedly affirmed the right of Utahns to meaningfully influence their government.

“Utah voters deserve fair representation and clarity heading into our elections,” said Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah. “We are encouraged that the court dismissed this improper appeal and allowed the process to move forward without disruption to voters or election administrators. The League of Women Voters of Utah will continue in our fight for fair maps for Utahns. Enough is enough."

“MWEG celebrates this decision. The people voted against gerrymandering when they passed Prop 4. The courts have provided an important check on the Legislature, affirming the people’s constitutional right to alter and reform their government,” said Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. “We remain committed to defending that right.”

“Today’s decision confirms that the Utah Legislature, like everyone else, has to follow the rules that govern court proceedings,” said Mark Gaber, senior director for redistricting at Campaign Legal Center. “The Legislature had every opportunity to pass a fair and legal map last fall, and it chose not to. Now, for the first time in decades, Utah voters will vote under a fair congressional map that respects local communities and treats all Utahns equally.”

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

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