WASHINGTON — Utah’s all-Republican congressional delegation had mixed reviews on the new map advanced by the state Legislature, with some members outright supporting the updated boundaries and others declining to comment altogether.
The Utah Legislature approved a new version of its congressional map on Monday, which would solidify two of the seats — District 1 and District 4, which encompass northern Utah and southwestern Utah, respectively — as solidly Republican while making Districts 2 and 3 much more competitive.
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, who represents the 1st District, expressed support for the new map, which leaves his district largely untouched and still leans heavily conservative.
“I appreciate and support the Utah Legislature’s work this month to adopt a fair and representative map that adheres to the standards set out in Prop 4,” Moore said in a statement. “This will serve Utahns well. The Legislature has done an excellent job working under a tight, court-ordered deadline to prove yet again they are putting Utahns first.”
Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, stopped short of outright supporting or rejecting the map, telling the Deseret News his focus would remain on carrying out his current work.
“My focus will always be serving the good people of Utah with integrity, hard work, and conservative leadership — fighting every day to defend our freedoms, grow our economy, and stand up for the values that make our state strong,” Kennedy told the Deseret News in a statement.
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, would likely be shuffled into one of the two most competitive districts, meaning he could face a tight race against a Democratic challenger. Owens’ office declined to comment.
Like Moore, Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, is likely to remain in the southwestern part of the state, which is considered to remain safely Republican. Maloy’s campaign team did not respond to a request for comment by the Deseret News.
Despite being approved by the Legislature on Monday, the map still faces a number of obstacles before it can be set in stone. A judge in Utah’s 3rd District Court must approve the new boundaries as compliant with Proposition 4 rules that the districts are not illegally partisan.
While Democrats argue the new boundaries in the map titled “Option C” are still unfairly tilted toward Republicans, national groups are signaling they’re ready to battle to unseat one of the four Republican incumbents.
“Utah Republicans are once again ignoring the will of voters in a desperate attempt to hold onto power,” Lindsay Reilly, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told the Deseret News. “By passing a gerrymandered map that divides communities, Utah Republicans are making clear they work for themselves, not for Utahns.”
“But make no mistake,” she added, “this scheme will blow up in Republicans’ faces. Option C includes a real pickup opportunity for Democrats. If this Republican gerrymander goes through, Democrats are ready to fight for this seat.”