Trending Now - Republican Moves Thwart Anti-gerrymandering Efforts in Two States
WHO:
President Trump endorsed the Republican-led initiative in Utah.
Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R).
Judge Brian Stumpe, Circuit Judge in Missouri.
Judge Dianna Gibson, state judge in Utah.
Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Better Boundaries.
Rob Axson, Utah Republican Party Chair.
WHAT:
A court ruling on March 24th, 2026, from Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe allows Republicans in Missouri to use a new gerrymandered congressional map for the 2026 midterms.
People Not Politicians announced on March 23rd, 2026, that local election officials had verified enough signatures for the measure to qualify for the ballot.
The Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) indicated he may declare the entire petition unlawful, potentially dragging out the official signature verification process for months.
On March 20th, 2026, Judge Stumpe ruled that the majority of the ballot language set by the Secretary of State was “fair and sufficient.”
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision on March 24th, 2026, that the legislature did not violate the state’s constitution during mid-decade redistricting.
In December 2025, People Not Politicians turned in more than 300,000 signatures, roughly three times the amount required to hold the referendum.
A state judge ruled that the Republican-led state Legislature in Utah violated anti-gerrymandering standards when it drew congressional boundaries after the 2020 census.
The Republican-led initiative to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law failed to qualify for the November 2026 ballot after their signature gathering campaign fell below the threshold needed.
Better Boundaries, the nonprofit that led the signature removal push, reported that thousands of people removed their signatures from the initiative.
A court ruling allowed Republicans in Missouri to use a new gerrymandered congressional map for the 2026 midterms.
More than 305,000 signatures were gathered by People Not Politicians to demand a vote on the new map.
The Republican-led initiative in Utah to repeal anti-gerrymandering standards failed to qualify for the November ballot.
A new congressional map in Utah gives Democrats a high likelihood of picking up a U.S. House seat.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that the legislature did not violate the state’s constitution during mid-decade redistricting.
WHERE:
Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Salt Lake City, Utah.
WHEN:
The court ruling in Missouri occurred on March 24th, 2026.
The signature verification deadline in Missouri is March 31st, 2026.
The Republican-led initiative in Utah failed to make the ballot for the November 2026 election.
The 2018 anti-gerrymandering measure in Utah was passed by voters.
WHY:
The GOP effort aimed to reverse a 2018 measure that established an independent redistricting commission and banned drawing districts that favor one political party over another.
The Republican-led initiative in Utah aimed to reverse a 2018 measure that established an independent redistricting commission.
The Missouri ruling allows Republicans to sidestep the constitutional right of voters to approve or reject legislative acts.
HOW:
Republicans in Missouri changed judicial venues and judges six times in four cases to delay court rulings and seek favorable outcomes regarding the new map and the referendum.
The state attorney general opened an immigration investigation into signature gatherers as part of the GOP's efforts to block the referendum.
Utah Republican Party Chair Rob Axson stated that efforts to repeal the law are "not over, but just beginning," indicating ongoing concerns about the signature validation and removal process.
The Missouri Secretary of State delayed the official signature verification process.
Republicans in Missouri changed judicial venues and judges multiple times to delay court rulings.
The Utah Republican Party's multimillion-dollar signature gathering campaign fell below the threshold needed to qualify for the ballot.
(UPDATED March 28, 2026 13:17 UTC)
A Missouri court ruling on March 24 allows Republicans to use a new gerrymandered congressional map for the upcoming midterms, following a decision from the Missouri Supreme Court that the legislature did not violate the state’s constitution during mid-decade redistricting. Meanwhile, People Not Politicians announced on March 23 that local election officials had verified enough signatures for a measure to qualify for the ballot, although Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins may declare the petition unlawful, potentially delaying the process for months. In a strategic move, Republicans have changed judicial venues and judges multiple times to influence outcomes regarding the new map and the referendum, while the state attorney general has opened an investigation into signature gatherers as part of the GOP's efforts to block the initiative.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 03:49 UTC)
A state judge ruled that the Republican-led Legislature in Utah violated anti-gerrymandering standards when it drew congressional boundaries after the 2020 census. Meanwhile, an initiative by the GOP to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law failed to qualify for the November 2026 ballot, as their signature gathering campaign did not meet the necessary threshold, with thousands of people reportedly removing their signatures from the initiative. Utah Republican Party Chair Rob Axson emphasized that efforts to repeal the law are "not over, but just beginning," highlighting ongoing concerns about the signature validation and removal process.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 01:24 UTC)
President Trump has endorsed a Republican-led initiative in Utah, while a recent court ruling in Missouri has allowed Republicans to use a new gerrymandered congressional map for the upcoming midterms. This ruling, decided on March 24, 2026, came despite more than 305,000 signatures gathered by People Not Politicians to demand a vote on the map, and it sidesteps the constitutional right of voters to approve or reject legislative acts. Meanwhile, the initiative in Utah to repeal anti-gerrymandering standards failed to qualify for the November ballot, leaving Democrats with a high likelihood of picking up a U.S. House seat.