- National Democrats plan to invest in Utah's 1st District after a judge approved a new map.
- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee aims to flip the district in 2026 elections.
- Former Rep. Ben McAdams and other Democrats may run in the newly Democratic-leaning district.
WASHINGTON — National Democrats are preparing to pour resources into Utah during the 2026 midterm cycle after a new congressional map was approved by a judge this week, which would give the party a strong chance to flip a House seat next year.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the official fundraising arm for House Democrats, praised a district judge's ruling, issued late Monday, that dismissed the state Legislature's proposed congressional districts and instead established a new map with a strongly Democratic-leaning district. The national group signaled it would pour money into flipping Utah's 1st District, which under the new lines virtually guarantees a Democratic victory.
"Make no mistake: Across the country, Republicans are rigging congressional maps because they can't defend their toxic record to gut health care and raise costs for families — all to deliver tax cuts to the wealthy and well-connected," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., in a statement. "Those efforts will fail — both in the courts and with voters."
DelBene, who is also chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the organization would "stand ready to help flip the 1st District" to secure a House majority in 2026, hinting they would devote resources to ads and other campaign messaging.
The Democratic National Committee similarly lauded the new congressional boundaries, accusing state Republicans of gerrymandering the map in Utah because "they were losing power in the state." The national group pointed to Utah as being crucial for Democrats to flip control of the House in 2026 as "every seat counts."
The reactions come after 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson ruled on Monday that the state Legislature's proposed map violated state law prohibiting partisan gerrymandering. State Republicans submitted the map after current congressional lines were thrown out earlier this year by Gibson after a years-long lawsuit claiming the lines unfairly diluted Democratic voters.
Instead, Gibson approved a map put forward by the plaintiffs in the case — including the League of Women Voters Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government — that would create a strong Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake City.
Utah lawmakers previously said they plan to appeal the case that forced them to redraw Utah's congressional boundaries to the Utah Supreme Court, and potentially all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
In a statement responding to the ruling, the Utah Republican Party didn't promise any immediate action but insinuated there will be more to come.
"We will boldly, lawfully and relentlessly work to resolve constitutional government and protect Utahns' right to self-govern," the party said in a statement. "We invite Judge Gibson to leave the bench and run for the legislature to pursue her policy preferences."
The newly created district could set off a competitive Democratic primary next year as several candidates have already expressed interest to the Deseret News that they'd like to run.
Former Rep. Ben McAdams, the last Utah Democrat to hold a seat in Congress, is expected to announce his campaign this week. He is expected to benefit from name recognition in the district as well as his record of being a moderate candidate who can appeal to both Democrats and independent voters.
But McAdams could face a real challenge from more left-leaning Democrats, especially in a district that Kamala Harris won by more than 20 percentage points. That could provide an opening for state Sens. Nate Blouin and Kathleen Riebe, who have both expressed interest in running.
Blouin told the Deseret News he is "strongly considering" a bid after seeing the new boundaries — and even suggested Gibson's decision "gives Utah the opportunity to elect a progressive."
Although state Republicans could still appeal the decision, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has already committed to complying with the judge's ruling for the 2026 cycle. Henderson said she would begin immediately implementing the new boundaries unless otherwise instructed by an appeals court.
