Experts, Maps & Public Reaction: Utah's Redistricting Countdown [Sep. 26, 2025]

After a major court ruling, Utah’s legislature is under a tight deadline to redraw congressional boundaries, and tensions are rising. In this episode of Utah's favorite political podcast, host Jason Perry and our expert panel break down the redistricting process, partisan debates, and what it means for Utah voters.

📌 Topics Covered:
• 👩🏻‍⚖️ The impact of Proposition 4 and Judge Gibson’s ruling
• ⚖️ Partisan symmetry and the battle of redistricting experts
• 🏙️🌄 Urban vs. rural representation in Utah
• 🗣️ Public feedback and the role of citizen-drawn maps
• 🧭 What’s next before the October 6 special session and the court's deadline

🗺️ Explore the proposed maps and leave your feedback: https://Redistricting.Utah.gov

💬 EXPERT INSIGHTS FROM:
• Senator Luz Escamilla – (D) Salt Lake County, Senate Minority Leader
• Senator Mike McKell – (R) Utah County, Senate Majority Assistant Whip
• Daniel Woodruff – Reporter, KSL 5 News

The Utah Legislature is moving forward with the process of redrawing the state's congressional boundaries. Our expert panel breaks down the process of creating the new maps. Plus, what do Utah voters think of the new lines? Republican State Sen. Mike McKell, Democratic State Sen. Luz Escamilla, and journalist Daniel Woodruff join host Jason Perry on this episode of The Hinckley Report.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley

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00:00 - 01:08 Intro
01:08 - 03:59 Redistricting Committee Kicks Off Meeting
03:59 - 07:15 Battling Political Experts
07:15 - 10:34 The Partisan Nature of Boundaries
10:34 - 14:25 Finding Partisan Symmetry in Congressional Maps
14:25 - 14:38 How to Divide Salt Lake and Utah Counties
14:38 - 17:30 Balance of Urban and Rural Representation
17:30 - 25:10 How the Public Can Weigh in on Utah's New Maps
25:10 - 25:50 What's to Come for Utah's New Congressional Maps
25:50 - 26:37 Outro

#CongressionalMaps #Prop4 #Gerrymandering #UtahPolitics #Redistricting #HinckleyReport #PoliticalNews #UtahLegislature #PublicComment #DanielWoodruff #LuzEscamilla #MikeMcKell #utpol #hinckleyinstitute