Utah GOP Seeks to Overturn Voter-Approved Redistricting Measure and New Congressional Map
The Utah Republican Party has launched a pair of efforts aimed at undoing both a voter-approved initiative and a recently approved set of congressional maps.
On Tuesday, Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson filed a citizen initiative to repeal Proposition 4, the 2018 measure that created an independent redistricting commission, and a referendum to overturn the new congressional map passed by lawmakers in last week’s special session.
Axson said the party believes Utah voters did not understand what they were signing up for when approving Proposition 4, which passed narrowly with 50.34% of the vote—just over 512,000 votes in favor and 505,000 against. The measure established a seven-member independent commission to draw and recommend congressional and legislative maps for the Utah Legislature’s approval.
If the GOP gathers enough signatures—roughly 140,000 statewide—the question would go before voters on the November 2026 ballot.
Axson said repealing the measure is necessary because of court rulings limiting the Legislature’s ability to change laws approved by voters.
“We’ve been told by the courts that the only way now in Utah to undo something passed by the people is to go back to the people,” he said. “I don’t agree with that conclusion, but it’s the one we have to abide by, so we will.”
He added that the party expects to mobilize both paid and volunteer signature gatherers over the next month.
“There’s a groundswell of concern from Utahns who don’t want to see our state move toward direct democracy,” Axson said. “We’re a republic, and we’re confident we’ll have the support to get this past the finish line.”
The GOP is also challenging the new congressional map, known as Map C, approved by the Legislature last week after a judge ordered lawmakers to redraw district boundaries. That map remains under judicial review.
“Among the five options, Map C was the best option,” Axson said. “But we don’t believe the process we’ve been subjugated to is appropriate. We’re standing up for the Legislature’s authority and the separation of powers.”
Utah Democratic Party Chair Brian King called the GOP’s actions an attempt to avoid accountability.
“It’s astonishing to me the lengths the Republican Party will go to avoid facing the people of Utah,” King said. “We want an end to gerrymandering, we want fair maps, and we want people to pick their legislators rather than politicians picking their voters.”
King said the moves show a party “desperate to hold on to supermajority power.”
“I guess I’d say I admire their tenacity,” he added, “but it’s not in pursuit of a worthy cause.”
#utpol