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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) Rep.-elect Ben McAdams, shown on election night, says Democrats need to deliver on the trust voters have placed in them.

Message from Democratic Rep.-elect Ben McAdams to Trump: You have a decision to make

By Robert Gehrke | November 5, 2026, 4:37 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune file photo) Kathleen Riebe is shown April 11, 2026, when she announced she was dropping out of the 1st Congressional District race and endorsing Ben McAdams. On Wednesday, Riebe said she will not comply with a request from Utah Senate Democrats to resign her state Senate seat.

Utah Sen. Kathleen Riebe won’t resign, threatens ethics complaint after Dems called for her to quit

By Robert Gehrke | November 5, 2026, 2:05 a.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Braydon Nemelka of Millcreek, who shared his views on government corruption, is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.

Deals in the dark, kowtowing to donors drove corruption-minded voters to seek change this election

By Robert Gehrke | November 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Justice Jill Pohlman, shown in June, found herself under attack by conservative Republicans.

Despite being targeted by conservatives, voters keep Utah Justice Jill Pohlman on the bench

By Robert Gehrke | November 4, 2026, 5:13 a.m.

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

Utah voters shoot down controversial constitutional amendment

By Robert Gehrke | November 5, 2026, 5:33 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) First Congressional District Democratic candidate Ben McAdams celebrates his win with supporters Tuesday night.

I’m ‘going to fight’ for Utahns, Ben McAdams vows, as Democrats win a seat in Congress

By Robert Gehrke | Palak Jayswal | Isabel Meléndez-Rivera | November 4, 2026, 5:12 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kathleen Riebe is pictured before announcing that she is dropping out of the 1st Congressional District race and endorsing Ben McAdams, during the Salt Lake County Democratic Party's convention at Highland High School on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Utah Senate Democrats call on Sen. Kathleen Riebe to resign over alleged discrimination, harassment

By Robert Gehrke | November 4, 2026, 3:50 a.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People drop their ballots off early at the Salt Lake County Government Center on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. The federal government has charged someone for voting in Utah while they were a lawful permanent resident and couldn't legally cast a ballot.

Trump’s Justice Department just announced scores of election-related charges, including a case in Utah

By Robert Gehrke | Emily R. Anderson | November 3, 2026, 12:09 a.m.

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

Here are 7 legislative races worth watching on election night

By Robert Gehrke | October 31, 2026, 2:08 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People drop their ballots off early at the Salt Lake County Government Center on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.

After millions in ads, new poll shows huge shift in voters’ views on Amendment B

By Robert Gehrke | October 29, 2026, 7:21 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former state Rep. Trevor Lee, with his attorney, Kathryn Nester, makes his first court appearance Wednesday on fraud and forgery charges related to his effort to obtain a home loan.

Watch: Former Rep. Trevor Lee appears in court on fraud and forgery charges

By Robert Gehrke | October 28, 2026, 4:36 p.m.

(Photos Courtesy of Ben McAdams and Riley Owen) During their college days, both Ben McAdams, left, and Riley Owen were shaped by their time working in the White House — Democrat McAdams under President Bill Clinton, Republican Owen with President Donald Trump. Now the two are vying to return to D.C. as the next representative in the 1st Congressional District.

Years after their political paths wound through D.C., Riley Owen and Ben McAdams vie to return

By Robert Gehrke | October 28, 2026, 4:37 p.m.

(Fox 13) Weber County sent extra ballots to as many as 167 voters.

Weber County sent two ballots to as many as 167 voters

By Robert Gehrke | October 26, 2026, 11:09 p.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.

Utahns have sticker shock. Riley Owen and Ben McAdams have plans to help.

By Robert Gehrke | October 26, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah lawmakers know prisoners can wait years for a public defender to file their appeal. They haven’t increased funding.

By Robert Gehrke | Jessica Schreifels | October 26, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson speaks during an interview in her office at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026.

Utah’s elections chief doesn’t have to give full voter rolls to Trump’s DOJ, judge decides

By Emily R. Anderson | Robert Gehrke | October 24, 2026, 12:45 a.m.

(Courtesy Carren Crossley) • The Utah County Clerk's office sent this notice that thousands of voters had to provide a copy of their identification in order for their mail-in ballot to be counted — including an unknown number who received it by mistake and had already had their identification verified.

Utah County clerk sent incorrect voting instructions to thousands of residents

By Robert Gehrke | October 23, 2026, 10:19 p.m.

(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.