Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson
Utah’s redistricting fight hits a decision point today: the Utah Supreme Court could decide whether to keep a remedial congressional map that creates a Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County district or snap back to the Legislature’s 2021 lines—just in time to scramble the 2026 midterms—and, thanks to a last-minute intervention bid by Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson to drag all 29 county clerks into the case, potentially reroute the whole process.
⏰ Tick Tock
14 days - The final day of the 2026 Utah Legislature (3/6/2026)
17 days - First day congressional candidates can file to run for the 2026 election. (3/9/2026)
25 days - Neighborhood caucus night. (3/17/2026)
50 days - Utah Forward Party nominating convention (4/11/2026)
65 days - Utah State Republican and Democratic State Party nominating conventions (4/25/2026)
124 days - Utah's 2026 primary election (6/23/2026)
257 days - 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026)
991 days - 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028)
The case stems from Proposition 4, the anti-gerrymandering law that created an independent redistricting commission that was approved by voters in 2018, and the long-running challenge to Utah’s congressional map.
The Utah Legislature is appealing a November ruling by Third District Judge Dianna Gibson that put in place a congressional map that creates a Democratic-leaning district centered on Salt Lake County.
The Legislature wants the justices to rule on its appeal by today. Lawmakers are asking the Court to stay Gibson’s ruling, scrap the remedial map, and restore the 2021 map for the 2026 midterms.
Separately, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson says that if the Court returns to the 2021 map, she needs a decision by Monday, Feb. 23 so county clerks can “shift gears” in time for 2026.
In late January, Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson made a bid to upend the process, asking the Court to add all 29 county clerks as defendants in the case.
Davidson argues that county clerks, who are independently elected, must be at the table to implement any new congressional map alongside county legislative bodies and state officials.
His ask: block Gibson’s remedial map, send the case back to District Court to restart mapmaking with county officials joined, and restore the 2021 map while that plays out.
If the Court won’t join county officials, Davidson wants to intervene himself, citing unresolved boundary issues in Utah County under Gibson’s map.
The plaintiffs strongly objected to Davidson’s attempt to insert himself into the process.
“Four years into this litigation, and for the first time while the case is on appeal, the Utah County Clerk contends that he is either a necessary party who must be joined lest the case be dismissed or that he should alternatively be allowed to intervene at this late stage,” they wrote.
They add that adding Davidson or county clerks or Davidson to the case is unnecessary because the lieutenant governor is Utah’s “chief election officer.”
Henderson didn’t take a position on the motion but undercut Davidson’s claim, saying her office has already worked with him to resolve those issues.
On Wednesday, a trio of federal judges heard arguments in a separate suit from Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens, joined by a coalition of local GOP officials, asking the court to block Gibson’s remedial map and reinstate the Legislature’s 2021 lines.