A Utah state judge struck down the GOP-drawn congressional map Friday, ruling that lawmakers had unconstitutionally diluted the power of Salt Lake City’s voters by splitting the region into four heavily Republican districts. The decision marks a rare victory for Democrats and voting-rights advocates in a state long dominated by Republican control.

Judge Dianna Gibson found that the 2021 redistricting plan “intentionally undermined” the results of a citizen-backed ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. Lawmakers ignored that commission’s proposals, instead carving Salt Lake City into multiple districts to weaken the influence of urban voters, which is a textbook case of partisan gerrymandering.

The ruling orders the legislature to draw a new, fairer map be

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