House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said House Republicans have a “fairly large list” of problems with the Senate-passed map. Many interviewed said House members sought maps that may favor the GOP more, help rural candidates more and differently decide how many Republicans from Davis County should be put in the district of Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
The Senate map would divide Salt Lake County into three slices. Two of them would be combined with vast rural areas. The third, in western Salt Lake County, would be combined with western, rural Utah County. A fourth district would be created in northern Utah.
Republicans say such a “pizza-slice” plan would ensure all members of Congress would represent both rural and urban areas. Democrats say that is a ploy to dilute their votes in Democratic Salt Lake County to improve odds of electing Republicans in all districts.