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Robert Gehrke

Politics Reporter

Robert has spent more than 20 years primarily covering government and politics in Utah and the West, including seven years in Washington, D.C.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People vote at the Marmalade Branch Library in Salt Lake City on Nov. 4, 2025.

Utah’s top election official says the DOJ is sending election monitors to Utah. Here’s what we know.

By Samantha Moilanen | Robert Gehrke | Anita Powell | Main Street Media Cooperative | October 22, 2026, 7:29 p.m.

(Fotografías de las campañas) Richard Nowak, a la izquierda, y Angela Romero, candidatos a las elecciones del Distrito 25 de la Cámara de Representantes.

Distrito 25 de la Cámara de Representantes: Angela Romero se enfrenta a Richard Nowak

By Robert Gehrke | October 22, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lisa Hurtado McDonnell, who recently spoke on affordability, is pictured at her home in Fruit Heights on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Strapped Utahns are renting out rooms, growing food and giving up vacations. They want to know how candidates will help.

By Robert Gehrke | October 20, 2026, 4:30 p.m.

(Eli Lucero | Pool) Candidates for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Peter Crosby, center, and Republican Blake Moore participate in a debate moderated by Heidi Hatch at Utah State University, Tuesday, Oct.13, 2026, in Logan, Utah.

Rep. Blake Moore says he has found ‘a productive lane’ in Congress. Challenger Peter Crosby says he lacks courage

By Robert Gehrke | October 14, 2026, 3:13 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Peter Capner drops his ballot in the drop box at Salt Lake County Government Center in October 2024. Ballots are hitting mailboxes this week.

The Tribune’s voter guide is here and it’s easier to use than ever

By Robert Gehrke | October 13, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake Tribune newspapers are pictured on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

Constitutional Amendment A would change how voters learn about future amendments

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photos) From left: Brady Brammer, Kandee Myers, and Wayne Woodfield, candidates for the 2026 Senate District 21 election.

Utah Senate District 21: Brady Brammer faces Kandee Myers and Wayne Woodfield

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photos; The Salt Lake Tribune) Clockwise from top left: Bob Darvish Ben McAdams, Riley Owen, and Jesse West, candidates for the 2026 1st Congressional District election.

First Congressional District: Ben McAdams faces off against Riley Owen and three other challengers

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 4:50 p.m.

(Campaign photos) Jess Birtcher, left, and Jordan Teuscher, candidates for the 2026 House District 44 election.

Utah House District 44: Jordan Teuscher faces Jess Birtcher

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photos) Shana Anderson, left, and Kirk Cullimore, candidates for the 2026 Senate District 19 election.

Utah Senate District 19: Kirk Cullimore faces off against Shana Anderson

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Utah Senate District 28: Evan Vickers faces off against Richard Robillard

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photos) Richard Nowak, left, and Angela Romero, candidates for the 2026 House District 25 election.

House District 25: Angela Romero faces off against Richard Nowak

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photo; Utah House of Representatives) Drew Howells, left, and Ken Ivory, candidates for the 2026 House District 39 election.

House District 39: Drew Howells faces off against Ken Ivory

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Campaign photos) Bob Stevenson, left, and Abigail Treasure, candidates for the 2026 House District 16 election.

Utah House District 16: Bob Stevenson faces Abigail Treasure

By Robert Gehrke | October 12, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Amendment B in Utah: Measure would require citizen initiatives that raise taxes to get support from 60% of voters

By Robert Gehrke | October 13, 2026, 9:06 p.m.

(Screenshot) This image is taken from "Backfire," Tim Ballard's nearly four-hour video posted recently to YouTube in which he accuses individuals in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of conspiring to keep him from being elected to the U.S. Senate because they didn't want him exposing child abuse in the church.

Anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard says LDS Church ‘excommunicated’ him to hide child abuse in the faith

By Robert Gehrke | October 8, 2026, 12:14 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, running for reelection, addresses delegates during the Davis County Republican Party nominating convention at Syracuse High School on Saturday, April 18, 2026. He has resigned his seat after being charged with fraud and forgery.

Former Rep. Trevor Lee gets his first court date, will be booked into jail on fraud charges

By Robert Gehrke | October 5, 2026, 5:57 p.m.

Utah judges impose vastly different sentences for similar crimes, audit finds

By Robert Gehrke | October 1, 2026, 3:03 a.m.

(Erin Hooley | Pool) Candidates for Utah’s 1st Congressional District Republican Riley Owen, left, and Democrat Ben McAdams participate in a debate at Salt Lake Community College, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Salt Lake City.

Ben McAdams, Riley Owen focus on high prices, AI policy in first policy clash

By Robert Gehrke | September 30, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, in April.

Before Rep. Trevor Lee, these lawbreaker Utah lawmakers resigned after being charged with crimes

By Robert Gehrke | September 30, 2026, 1:11 a.m.