Four women have accused a Utah Democrat, currently campaigning for a congressional seat, of making unwanted sexual advances.
Eva Lopez Chavez, who serves on the Salt Lake City Council and is vying for the Democratic nomination in Utah’s 1st Congressional District, is facing allegations that include restraining women while pursuing advances. These incidents reportedly occurred before Chavez was elected to the council in 2023. Notably, three of the accusers currently hold elected positions, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, where both Chavez and the Tribune are involved.
Victoria Petro, a Democratic Salt Lake City Councilwoman, questioned the implications of such behavior: “If a man did something like that to me, would there be a question whether it was assault?” She asserted that, in her opinion, Chavez should step aside. One woman described being pushed against a wall during a September 2022 party, where Chavez allegedly remarked about her attraction to men.
Senator Jen Plumb shared an initial denial of an encounter from November 2022, when she claims Lopez-Chavez forcefully questioned her about her sexual orientation. Plumb expressed her disgust over the behavior, stating, “It’s disgusting that someone would do that to their daughter, their mother, their best friends. It’s disgusting that it’s ignored anymore.” She confirmed inappropriate advances were made towards her.
Democratic Representative Juan Nguyen recounted an experience in 2022 after a campaign event when Lopez-Chavez requested a ride and then abruptly made physical advances. Nguyen described feeling pinned and confused when Chavez allegedly insisted on being kissed.
A fourth accuser, Maggie Rezir, recounted needing to intervene at a 2019 fundraiser when she felt Chavez was overly flirtatious, eventually leading to a confrontation that separated them. Rezir emphasized that if Chavez hopes to run for Congress, she should maintain a standard of conduct, especially one she expects from other candidates.
Chavez has denied the accusations but did not respond to requests for further comment. Her attorney indicated that she is willing to confront these allegations through legal means and is open to taking a polygraph test if required.
