The court ordered the Republican-led legislature in Utah to throw out a gerrymandered map and draw up a new, fair one.

But instead, the GOP passed another gerrymander.

And in case the courts don’t like this new map, they have a backup plan — Republican lawmakers passed a new, outrageous scheme to rig the redistricting process in order to tighten their stranglehold on power.

You have to read it to believe it: This scheme would implement a test that experts have known for years doesn’t work for states with few districts and one-sided statewide elections. Applying that test where it shouldn’t be done is so well known that scholars nationwide call it the “Utah Paradox,” because Utah votes overwhelmingly Republican in most statewide elections. This is a not-so-subtle way for Republicans to have a monopoly over all of Utah’s congressional seats.

That’s not how math is supposed to work. And that’s certainly not how district maps work. Communities should be represented fairly. Rural communities, urban communities, and Black and Brown communities must all be able to elect leaders who represent their needs and interests.

This is just the latest example of the shocking, audacious lengths Republicans will go to in order to steal congressional seats. They desperately don’t want to face the American people in a free and fair election. That’s tough, because the NDRC is prepared to fight back to ensure the will of the people can’t be ignored.

But with fights emerging in several states, it takes resources to mount a competitive opposition. Donate to ensure we can continue to fight for fair maps and defeat backdoor attempts to monopolize our government.

This isn’t the first time the Utah legislature has tried to usurp the will of the people. In 2018, Utahns passed a ballot measure to create an independent redistricting commission and end gerrymandering. Then, the GOP legislature turned right around and repealed that ballot measure — drawing a gerrymandered map instead.

The fair maps movement mobilized and challenged that illegal map — and a judge threw it out this summer. But Trump’s pressure campaign to see as many districts gerrymandered as possible has spread to Utah. They’re bending to the White House and trying to push a new map that gives the GOP control of all four of Utah’s congressional districts.

We can’t let up on this fight for a moment — not when we’re so close to delivering for the voters of Utah. But with gerrymandering fights cropping up across the country, we need all the support we can get. Donate today to power the NDRC’s work in Utah and beyond.

More soon,

Marina Jenkins
Executive Director, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee

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Since 2017, the NDRC has executed a comprehensive redistricting strategy that shifts the redistricting power, creating fair districts where Democrats can compete. Our victories have been made possible by our strong community of grassroots supporters.

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