Utah Petition to Repeal Anti-Gerrymandering Law Fails

A Republican-backed petition drive to repeal Utah's voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law has fallen short of qualifying for the November ballot, ensuring the measure remains in place and preserving a court-ordered congressional map that favors Democrats in one district.

The effort, led by Utahns for Representative Government and endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sought to overturn Proposition 4, a 2018 ballot initiative that established an independent redistricting commission and prohibited districts drawn to favor one political party. To qualify, organizers needed valid signatures from 8 percent of registered voters statewide, or about 141,000, and from 8 percent in at least 26 of the state's 29 Senate districts. They submitted roughly 225,000 signatures in February, initially meeting the thresholds with around 170,000 validated after rejections. However, a coordinated campaign by opponents, including the nonprofit Better Boundaries, prompted thousands of signers to withdraw their support, particularly in Senate District 15 covering areas like Midvale and Cottonwood Heights. Updated tallies released Thursday showed the district falling 260 signatures below the...