‘Slap In The Face’: Republicans Irate Over Gerrymandered Map Blame One Of Their Own

Utah Republican Rep. Blake Moore is in a sticky situation with other party members blaming him for a truncated congressional map that benefits Democrats.

In 2018, Moore supported a ballot measure, Proposition 4, aimed at limiting gerrymandering in his state. However, the measure ultimately sparked a long battle between Republicans and Democrats that resulted in a hand-picked new map that awarded Democrats a new blue seat in Salt Lake City, Politico reported.

The Republicans failed to overturn the map at the end of March, and they now place all the blame on “Salt Lake Blake”. They are also preparing to take on a major challenge.

“For a lot of Republicans who have served a long time and been in leadership positions, like me, Proposition 4 is a slap in the face,” Don Guymon, chairman of the Davis County GOP in Moore’s new district, told Politico. “People are worried, and I think we’ll see whether they hold Blake responsible or not.”

(L-R) U.S. Rep. Blake Moore, Republican of Utah, speaks with Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital, during an “Invest America” ​​roundtable with U.S. President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, June 9, 2025. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2017, Moore joined Better Boundaries, an anti-gerrymandering group, as co-chair. The group then helped create an independent advisory commission on redistricting through Proposition 4, which passed.

But it backfired on Republicans when, in 2025, District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Republicans in the Utah State House of Representatives failed to follow the new rule as they attempted to redraw the congressional map and carve out four safely red districts. Gibson opted for a different map that included the new blue Salt Lake County seat. (RELATED: Judge tosses Utah GOP map over ‘partisan gerrymandering’, orders district redrawing)

Republicans attempted to repeal Proposition 4 but failed to collect and verify enough signatures, despite support from President Donald Trump and efforts from conservative activist group Turning Point Action.

Former state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, who is vying for Moore’s seat, told Politico, “What good is a leadership position when Blake made it easy for Democrats to get into the House?”

“We blame Salt Lake Blake for this whole mess,” said Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action.

The backlash is “an opportunistic thing, to try to accuse me,” Moore told Politico. He also condemned Gibson’s 2025 ruling.

“I don’t support what the judge did,” Moore said. “It should have allowed the state legislature to have constitutional authority to finalize the maps.”