Federal court refuses to block new Utah congressional voting map that may favor Democrats

By Fox News · Fox News

A federal court ruling Monday has essentially locked in a new Utah congressional redistricting map that would create a Democrat-heavy Salt Lake City-based seat, potentially flipping one of Utah's Republican-held U.S. House seats. A special three-judge federal panel is allowing a revised congressional redistricting map in Utah to go into effect, rejecting an effort by state Republicans to block it. The judicial panel denied a Republican-led request for a preliminary injunction to put the new map on hold. The new voting boundaries give Democrats a better shot at winning Utah's 1st Congressional District , a seat currently held by Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah. Two of Utah's other four GOP seat-holders in Congress – Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah; and Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah – had signed on to the challenge but have accepted the decision in a joint statement. MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS "We receive today's decision with profound disappointment but respect for the Court's careful review," the statement, shared on X by Owens, read. "This case concerns the Constitution's allocation of authority over federal elections, a question of lasting importance beyond any single election cycle." "Having these issues heard has strengthened public understanding and clarified what is at stake," the statement continued. "We remain convinced that the Constitution assigns this responsibility to the State's lawmaking authority and that this principle is essential to preserving constitutional order and the rule of law." A state judge had ordered the new map, striking congressional voting lines adopted by the state legislature after the 2020 census. A state voter referendum had approved anti-gerrymandering standards. The Utah Supreme Court, in recent days, had also rejected the original map crafted by the GOP-controlled legislature. RNC SUES TO STOP DEMOCRATS' VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING PUSH The federal panel's decision rested on the "Purcell principl…