Well, howdy there, Internet people, it's Bell again.

So today, we're going to talk about the GOP losing a redistricting case in Utah.

Back in 2018 in Utah, a voter-approved ballot measure created nonpartisan redistricting standards. But in October of this year,

the Utah legislature created a new map that made two districts more competitive, but not really

competitive, and still heavily favored Republicans. The League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon

Women for Ethical Government sued the Utah State Legislature.

District Court Judge Diana Gibson wrote quote,

MAPC fails in many ways to comply with Proposition 4.

First, MAPC was drawn with partisan political data on display. MAPC does not abide by Proposition 4. First, Map C was drawn with partisan political data on display.

Map C does not abide by Proposition 4's traditional redistricting criteria to the greatest

extent practicable. And based on the evidence presented, the court finds that Map C was drawn

with the purpose to favor Republicans, a conclusion that

follows from even SB 1011's metric for partisan intent, and it unduly favors Republicans and

disfavors Democrats. That part ended the Republican gerrymandered map.

Because Republicans waited so late in the game to try to change the map,

there was also a time crunch to get a replacement map.

Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, who is Utah's top elections officer,

said a replacement map had to be in by November 10 to make sure

it was ready for the 2026 election cycle. The lieutenant governor actually posted a reference to the

Princess Brides, I'm Waiting Scene on social media as the clock ticked down. Shortly before the deadline, Judge Gibson

chose plaintiff's map won as the replacement map. The map has a non-jerrymandered district around

Salt Lake City. That's pretty much a guaranteed Democratic win. Republicans are so mad.

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