A federal court on Feb. 23 rejected Republicans’ request to block Utah’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Two judges on a three-judge panel disagreed with the politicians’ argument that a state court had exceeded its authority by implementing the map as a replacement for one created in 2021. The judges also said their hands were tied due to a legal doctrine known as the Purcell principle, which instructs courts not to alter state rules before election day.
The state court’s decision to invalidate the 2021 map came in August 2025. Utah District Court Judge Dianna Gibson said that the map, which was used for the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, stemmed from a law that violated the state’s constitution….
Court Rejects GOP Challenge to Utah Congressional Map
