Emily Means talks with Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, and Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, about redistricting, the process of re-evaluating and redrawing political boundaries following the U.S. census; and their thoughts on the Better Boundaries initiative. Also, Jason Perry from the Hinckley Institute of Politics lays the groundwork for understanding where congressional seats are…
State lawmakers wrapping up the redistricting process will likely settle on a congressional map this Monday that closely resembles the map approved by the Utah Senate earlier this month. This would end a deadlock caused by disagreement between Republicans in the Senate and House. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, GOP leaders expect to smooth over the dispute with minor changes, but Democratic Party chair Jim Dabakis argues Democrats and independents still don’t have a pawn in the game.
Utah lawmakers haven’t been able to reach an agreement on how to re-draw the state’s congressional boundaries, as the redistricting process has created a firestorm of controversy, generated protests and led to the threat of a lawsuit. Utah Republican Party Chair Thomas Wright joined Democratic Party Chair Jim Dabakis in the studio for a discussion and debate about what’s happening with redistricting in Utah.
Just two weeks before final redistricting maps are voted on by the Utah Legislature, Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis is not shying away from voicing his disgust on one proposal likely to be presented to the legislative body, even though it got bipartisan support from the redistricting committee. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports.
A legislative redistricting committee considered two maps this morning for the Utah Senate boundaries, but neither got the stamp of approval. One of the maps came from the citizen group Fair Boundaries Coalition, while the other came from the redistricting committee’s co-chairman. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the second map raised lots of concern over Tooele.
In an unexpected move Monday, the Utah Legislature’s Redistricting Committee chose a citizen map for new state school board boundaries. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, a software designer from Logan had the golden ticket, when several maps drawn by lawmakers and school board members did not make the cut.
Utah’s legislative redistricting committee took another look at citizen maps today at the State Capitol. Residents continue to urge the committee to keep communities of interest intact, while lawmakers say that’s harder than it looks. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the committee heard from several communities, including the Navajo Nation.
Utah is becoming more Republican, according to a contributor with the political science analysis forum Utah Data Points, and that means trouble for House Democrats in the redistricting process. Adam Brown, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University, says because Democratic House Districts are growing at a slower rate than GOP districts, Democratic incumbents will have a hard road ahead.
Additional Programming Provided by
