A Utah lawmaker has been forced out of office just weeks after being accused of making unwanted and aggressive sexual advances toward four separate women. Eva Lopez Chavez, a Salt Lake City councilmember, was removed from office Tuesday after the city recorder’s office determined she no longer maintained residency in the district, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The residency violation came to light just one month after four women publicly accused Lopez Chavez of predatory behavior, claiming she used physical force, restraint and cringy pickup lines in attempts to seduce them. The now-removed councilwoman stated she entered public service 'to stand up for working families, immigrants, small business owners, tenants, seniors and communities too often left behind.'
'That fight does not end with a title or a seat,' she added. 'What was announced today did not come from the community I serve.' 'To everyone who placed their trust in me, thank you. I will continue to fight for you.' Lopez Chavez was already suspended from council duties while being investigated for sexual misconduct allegations that emerged during her first Congressional District run, though it is unclear whether the investigation will continue.
Last month, State senator Jen Plumb, state representative Hoang Nguyen, fellow council member Victoria Petro and former political aide Maggie Regier made the concerning allegations to The Salt Lake Tribune. The women painted an alleged pattern of predatory behavior, claiming they were accosted by Lopez Chavez during social settings prior to her joining the city council in 2023.
Allegations of Assault
Petro claimed that during a wedding reception for a former council member, she was approached by congressional hopeful Lopez Chavez, who allegedly became aggressive. She told the outlet that the councilwoman: 'Pushed me back against a pillar so that my back was against the wall and told me, "The only reason I still f*** men is because a woman hasn't shown me what I really want."' 'If a man had done that to me, would there be a question if it was assault or not?' she added in an interview with the outlet.
Petro's claims were echoed by Plumb, who alleged she was shoved against a wall by Lopez Chavez during a friend's birthday party in November 2022. 'It absolutely was a sexual advance. She leaned into me, grabbed onto my ass, got up in my face and said in my ear, "You're sure you're straight?"' Plumb said.
Regier, who uses they/them pronouns, alleged they were targeted by Lopez Chavez during a Human Rights Campaign fundraising event. Regier claimed the lawmaker was 'flirty' all night and led them around by the wrist, before Lopez Chavez allegedly dragged them into a hallway and pinned them against a wall until a friend intervened. The former political aide, who worked on Salt Lake City mayoral hopeful Stan Penfold's unsuccessful campaign, said they reported it to their superior 'in tears.'
Corey Cronin confirmed Regier told him about the incident and they felt like they were 'being harassed by somebody they had a lot of respect for and they kept saying "no."' 'Regardless of individual details of mine or anyone else’s experience, there is an established pattern of behavior that is not appropriate for elected officials,' Regier told the Daily Mail. 'Eva made unwanted sexual advances on multiple occurrences towards multiple women, and I hope she find the courage to take accountability for her actions.'
Additional Accusations
State representative Hoang Nguyen alleged that Lopez Chavez climbed on top of her as she was giving her a ride back to her car following a campaign event for Plumb. 'Next thing I know she has leaned over and she's on top of me, holding my shoulders down,' Nguyen told the Salt Lake Tribune. 'I said, "What are you doing?" And she said, "Kiss me,"' Nguyen said. 'She said, "I'm not going to get off you until you kiss me." I gave her a peck and she got off.'
Meanwhile, Lopez Chavez has firmly denied the allegations through her attorney, Greg Skordas, who said she was 'shocked' to learn of them. He added that the Democrat has communications with all four accusers, which are 'entirely inconsistent with these untrue allegations.' Whether the investigation will continue is still uncertain, as the council is expected to discuss the matter and announce a decision at a future meeting.
Residency Investigation
Her eventual removal from office was sparked by a concerned resident who wrote to the city attorney in April requesting an investigation into whether she still met the legal residency requirement in the district she represents. Under the terms of her mortgage, Lopez Chavez - elected in 2023 to represent District 4 - was required to reside in her district but purchased a home in District 5 in September 2025, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. The deed she ultimately signed required her to live in the property as her primary residence within 60 days.
Following a two-week investigation, City Recorder Keith Reynolds concluded that the councilwoman failed to meet the residency requirement and lived outside the district she represents. 'As a result of that conclusion, I find that the District 4 City Council seat is automatically vacant under Utah law and advise the City Council to take steps to fill the vacant seat pursuant to Utah law,' Reynolds declared in a letter.
Meanwhile, Lopez Chavez’s lawyers fired back at the findings, saying they 'disagree' with the legal analysis conducted by the Salt Lake City recorder’s office. 'We are reviewing all available remedies,' attorneys Alex Ramos and Andrew Deesing said in a statement. 'Councilwoman Lopez Chavez will abide by the decision until we determine next steps,' they added.
The council responded with a separate statement, saying they 'respect the legal process that was followed in making the determination' and that, given clear state code, 'the vacancy is effective immediately.' This marks the first time the City Council has automatically vacated a seat based on a residency disqualification established under both city and state law. According to the council, the empty seat is expected to be filled within 30 days.
'It would be nice to have them living in this area so they can kind of get a feel of how people are and what it's about,' one resident told Fox 13 News following her removal. 'No, no,' another said when asked if the councilwoman should be allowed to live outside the district. 'You don't get to do that.'
When Lopez Chavez was first elected, she lived in an apartment on Douglas Street near the University of Utah but moved out at the end of last year, later telling the city attorney’s office she did not yet have a fixed address. Because her seat was declared 'vacant' in December, there is now confusion over whether Lopez Chavez’s later actions and votes remain legally valid.
In response to an inquiry, she told city officials that her time was split between her campaign manager’s home in District 4, a home she purchased in District 5, her parents’ home outside her district, and friends’ homes within the district. But during a Central City Neighborhood Council meeting last week, she told attendees she had 'actually just moved to' an apartment downtown, according to The Tribune. As for her District 5 home, she instead described it as 'an investment property.'
'By admission through your counsel, you failed to maintain a principal place of residence within District 4 since at least December 6, 2025, when you moved out of the of the Douglas Street property,' Reynolds wrote. Because the city recorder declared her seat 'vacant' on December 6, there is now confusion over whether Lopez Chavez’s later actions and votes remain legally valid.
Nicholas Rupp, who called for the investigation, expressed his thanks for the city’s work in a statement shared on social media. 'While I’m feeling validated, I’m mostly sad and disappointed,' the resident wrote. 'Sad that my D4 neighbors and I haven’t had legal city representation for months, and I’m disappointed that our elected official didn’t know (or care about) the residency laws for the seat,' he added.
