Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA
Utah Rep. Blake Moore is voicing rare intra-party dissent over Texas Republicans' controversial mid decade redistricting efforts, calling the move “a step too far” and warning it could provoke retaliatory actions from Democratic led states, further eroding national political norms.
“I do not agree with state efforts to redistrict mid-decade,” Moore, R-Utah, said in a statement to KSL.com. “It undermines established norms and gives blue states a glaring green light to do the same. Partisan gerrymandering is clearly done by both sides, but to allow this wildfire to spread mid-decade is a step too far.”
As vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, Moore is among the highest-ranking Republicans in government to publicly criticize the Texas GOP's move, joining voices from both red and blue states who fear the precedent could undermine democratic processes nationwide.
Texas Republicans have proposed redrawing the state’s congressional districts to strengthen GOP advantages ahead of the 2026 midterms. The proposed maps have received support from former President Donald Trump, who said the redistricting could give Republicans five additional seats and help maintain their narrow majority in the House.
However, the move has sparked fierce opposition. Texas Democrats walked out of the state to deny quorum, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to request their expulsion. Senator John Cornyn said Thursday that the FBI director had approved his request for federal assistance in locating the out-of-state lawmakers.
Critics say the GOP plan represents an abuse of power. “Partisan gerrymandering is what Democrats call it when it happens in a red state,” said Utah Sen. Mike Lee on X. “When it happens in a blue state, Democrats tell us that ‘this is what democracy looks like.’” He later added that while racial gerrymandering is illegal, partisan gerrymandering is not.
On Wednesday, several Utah House and Senate Democrats joined lawmakers from 38 other states in Boston to support Texas Democrats and condemn the redistricting plan. “Voters across the country deserve fair, transparent, and independent redistricting not politically motivated gerrymanders,” said Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero. “This is a direct attack on a bedrock principle of our nation: the ability of people to choose their representatives.”
Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla added, “It’s wrong for any president, of any party, to order states to slice up communities and disenfranchise millions for his own personal and political benefit.”
Meanwhile, Utah is embroiled in its own redistricting controversy. The League of Women Voters of Utah and other advocacy groups sued the state in 2022 after Republican lawmakers redrew congressional maps that split Salt Lake County into four parts an act critics called an “extreme partisan gerrymander.”
The Utah Supreme Court previously ruled the Legislature overstepped by altering the citizen initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. The case remains in court, with a final ruling expected soon. Advocates hope for a decision before the Nov. 1, 2025, deadline for implementing new maps ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
“We don't want this to be a tit for tat,” said Katherine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah. “What we want is for each state to realize that redistricting should give all eligible voters a fair voice.”
Despite the legal battles and political tensions, Moore remains adamant that upholding redistricting norms is key to preserving public trust in American democracy.
