A Utah district court on Monday struck down the state’s 2021 congressional map, ruling that Republican lawmakers illegally disregarded voter-approved safeguards designed to curb partisan gerrymandering. Judge Dianna Gibson found the legislature’s actions violated Proposition 4, the 2018 “Better Boundaries” initiative that created an independent redistricting commission, and ordered the state to produce a new map within 30 days—no later than Sept. 24—so it can be in place for the 2026 midterm elections. The invalidated map split Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County among all four districts, helping Republicans secure every U.S. House seat in 2022 and 2024. Gibson said the legislature’s decision in 2020 to weaken the independent commission and then bypass its recommendations undermined voters’ constitutional right to reform their government. Republican leaders signaled they will appeal, first to the Utah Supreme Court and potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court, raising the possibility of delays. If the order stands, Democrats see an opportunity to pick up at least one seat in a chamber where they need a net gain of three to retake control in 2026.