Utah's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Republican lawmakers seeking to overturn a congressional map that creates a Democratic-leaning district, dealing a blow to the GOP's efforts to protect all four Republican-held U.S. House seats. The court ruled it lacks jurisdiction over the legislative appeal, leaving intact a map that consolidates Salt Lake County into a single district.

Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant signed the order, citing procedural grounds for dismissal. The map, adopted by a Utah judge in November, divides the heavily Democratic population center differently than previous configurations. Republican Senate President Stuart Adams criticized the decision, claiming it undermines constitutional processes, while League of Women Voters of Utah President Katharine Biele praised the ruling as protecting voter interests.

The redistricting battle stems from an August decision striking down the Legislature's post-2020 census map for circumventing voter-approved anti-gerrymandering standards. The case has become part of a broader national debate over redistricting, with President Trump urging Republican-led states to pursue mid-decade redistricting to maintain House control. The map significantly improves Democrats' chances of winning a congressional seat in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to Congress since early 2021.