Utah House voting map that helps Democrats can be used, federal court rules
The Guardian World
by Associated PressFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Federal court rules that new Utah voting districts designed to improve Democrats' chances of winning a U.S. House seat can be used in this year’s election. The ruling comes after Republicans sought to block the map, marking their second setback in recent days following a loss at Utah’s state supreme court.
The new districts were drawn by a federal judge after previous maps were struck down for unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. These updated boundaries aim to create opportunities for Democrats in a traditionally Republican stronghold. While Utah has been a reliably red state, the new map could shift the political dynamics and give Democrats a fighting chance to win at least one seat in the U.S. House.
The court’s decision highlights the ongoing tension between political parties over redistricting and election integrity. Republicans had argued that the new districts violated constitutional principles, but their efforts to block the map were unsuccessful. This ruling underscores the importance of fair representation and the potential for redistricting to influence election outcomes.
With this federal court victory, Democrats now have a stronger platform to compete in
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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/23/2026