The Utah GOP's Very Honest, Very Stupid Email
When you accidentally confess the whole plan to your entire mailing list.
This might surprise you. Despite holding complete control in our state, Republicans in Utah are so dang bad at politics. They haven’t had to do it – or ever really be good at it. They’ve just won automatically for so long that their basic political instinct is nonexistent.
But boy... sometimes they are REALLY BAD AT IT.
Yesterday was one of those times.
The Utah Republican Party blasted an email to donors and delegates urging them to support Map C in the redistricting process. And instead of doing what any competent political party would do, you know, maintain plausible deniability, keep up appearances, pretend this is about “fair representation,” they just... said it. Out loud. In writing. In an email blast.
That was a really dumb idea, Utah GOP.
They Said the Quiet Part Out Loud
Here is what the strategic geniuses at the Utah Republican Party (looking at you, Rob Axson) said in the email:
“We urgently need you to submit comments supporting Map C. This is the only map proposed that contains the redistricting criteria and legislative boundaries needed to stop the Democrats.”
[If they don’t pass Map C] “the Democrats could gain control of Congress.”
“Map C is our best chance to preserve Utah’s representation.”
Let’s pause right there.
Preserve whose representation? Certainly not the majority of Utahns who voted for Proposition 4, demanding fair maps and an end to politicians picking their own voters. No, this is about preserving their power.
They didn’t just tip their hand, they threw the whole deck on the table and said: “Yes, this is about keeping Democrats out, not about fairness.”
They even trotted out Utah’s voter registration numbers, bragging that only 14% of Utahns are Democrats. As if that justifies rigging the maps to lock out the minority. If you didn’t already have a reason to switch your registration back from Republican, they just gave you another one.
The Hypocrisy is Breathtaking
Remember last week when Republican members of the redistricting committee scolded Utahns about avoiding partisan commentary in their comments? Remember the sanctimonious lectures about how Democrats “just want a district they can win”?
Apparently, that little performance doesn’t apply when Republicans are the ones rigging the game.
The email literally instructs recipients to “share the message that this map keeps Utah strong.” Strong?? Try safe: safe for incumbents who know they can’t win if voters actually get a fair shot.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Better Utah’s Report Card
While the Utah GOP was busy putting their partisan motivations in writing, Better Utah Institute did something very useful: they objectively scored all the committee’s proposed maps using five key measures that matter for fair redistricting.
The results? Map C – the one Republicans are desperately pushing – is among the worst options for voters in terms of competitiveness.
Higher scores = better for voters (except for splits, where lower is better).
Let’s be clear about what these numbers mean: Map C scores an abysmal 6 out of 100 on competitiveness – the lowest of any map with minimal city and county splits.
The GOP’s preferred map isn’t just slightly less competitive. It’s deliberately engineered to eliminate competition as much as possible while still technically complying with Prop 4. The numbers prove exactly what their email admitted: Map C is an attempt to “stop the Democrats” and lock in Republican control, fairness be damned.
You can see the full report card with detailed explanations here.
They Put It In Writing
Here’s the kicker: this will end up in court. The Utah Supreme Court already ruled that the legislature must comply with Prop 4 (the voter-approved law requiring fair, non-partisan redistricting). And the GOP just handed opponents their smoking gun: written proof that partisanship—not community interest, not legal compliance, not fairness—is the entire driving force behind Map C.
It’s wild. Republicans could have kept up the charade. They really could’ve kept pretending. They could’ve said Map C was “the most compliant with standards” or “best reflects community integrity.” They could’ve kept wagging their finger at Democrats about “partisan interests” and “respecting the process.”
But no. They panicked. And like they always do, they fumbled. Instead of keeping up appearances, they wrote out the real plan: lock in Republican power, kill competition, and make sure voters never get a fair fight.
And judges aren’t stupid. Neither is the public. Does anyone think the court or any voter paying attention will look at this email and believe Map C was crafted without considering partisanship? And just so happens to be “the map that GOP lawmakers are leaning towards”? Please.
When Caught, Double Down
After the email went public, Utah Republican Party Chair Rob Axson told Utah News Dispatch that the party has every right to push for partisan maps:
“There is no obligation for the Utah Republican Party to muzzle itself and not fight for what it believes in … The Legislature was told by the judge that they couldn’t (draw maps with) partisanship. And I’ll tell you, they haven’t consulted with me. I haven’t consulted with them. We’ve all abided by that process.”
Except... he can’t keep his story straight. In a separate interview with ABC4 earlier in the day, Axson said something a little different:
“We encouraged people to comment and picked a map that is favorable to Republicans,” Axson admitted. “This is the process, and we’re weighing in.”
“Axson denied that he is getting any marching orders or guidance from lawmakers to push forward the map that they want, but he did say that some lawmakers have talked to him about maps that they like.”
So which is it, Rob? You haven’t consulted with legislators or have they talked to you about which maps they like?
And then, in all interviews with media his primary justification for Map C was something like this:
“Map C does a good job of the rural-urban divide; it does the best job of balancing that,” Axson said.
Hilarious. First of all, he just sent an email blast with ZERO references to the rural/urban split as justification for why people should support map C. But it did include many references to “stopping the Democrats” and the “blue takeover.”
Second. If you really think that having representatives represent rural and urban communities is the best option, options A, B, C, and E all maintain a rural-urban mix across districts. Map C isn’t unique in this regard. What makes it unique is its 6 out of 100 competitiveness score, the lowest of any viable option from the Republican legislature.
The mental gymnastics are impressive. Yes, Rob, the Utah GOP can “fight for what it believes in.” But when what you believe in is rigging maps to “stop the Democrats,” when you put that in writing, when you have an influence with lawmakers about which maps they should support, and when you orchestrate a campaign to flood the public comment period in support of the Legislature’s preferred map while claiming total separation... you’ve just proven exactly why Prop 4 exists.
What Happens Next
Fortunately and unfortunately, this process is nowhere near close to being finished. The Legislature is convening on October 6th to vote on the maps. As a reminder, you can submit public comments on the maps until October 5th.
Here is what you can do:
Make comments on the Legislature’s proposed maps.
Here is a video walkthrough of how to leave a comment on the maps.
Use the 5Calls script to call your representatives on the maps and to vote no on Brammer’s bill.
Which map is the best, then? I think A or B, but I need more info before writing my reps