MEET
Early Life
Eva Lopez Chavez was born in Salt Lake City as the eldest daughter of a working-class Mexican immigrant family. In the hills of southern Idaho, Eva shared a bed with her grandmother for most of her childhood. It wasn’t easy, but Eva learned how to work hard for the ones she loves. La familia es siempre primero: family is always first.
As a child, Eva could see the difference between the clothes she had to wear, and the clothes that the other kids’ parents were able to buy for them. She recalls many afternoons with her mother at government offices, at the hospital, at WIC training meetings, acting as translator and learning firsthand how political systems work—and all the ways they don’t. She knew from an early age that she wanted to make things better.
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Utah
Eva’s family has since moved back to Utah permanently, and she is once again grateful to call Salt Lake City her home. Eva loves her city. She loves climbing in the gym at Trolley Square. She loves grabbing lunch at El Meños down on 1700. She loves walking Harvey Milk Boulevard and visiting the shops.
Eva is also a die-hard daughter of the Rocky Mountains. In warm weather she can be found fly fishing in the Duchesne River, or hiking the trails of Little Cottonwood. In the winter it’s the slopes at Brighton.
Natural beauty and good people—this is the Utah that Eva goes to work for every day.
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​​Education and Activism
While studying political science from the University of Utah, Eva learned through both the classroom and community around her that positive change comes through systemic change. As a young adult she began attending pride rallies, got involved in both school and local politics, and can since cite over a decade’s-worth of civic engagement and community involvement.
Throughout her career Eva has been actively involved in grassroots organizing and community improvement efforts. She has been on the front lines protesting for minimum wage increase, marching against police violence, and even doing such simple but crucial work as taking point-in-time counts to further efforts in lifting fellow Utahns out of homelessness.
Eva is a proud member of both the LGBTQ+ and Mexican American communities and will always advocate for her fellow Utahns’ rights and representation.
Before her time as councilwoman, Eva worked as a Mayor’s Office Liaison, Paralegal, and now as a project manager solving the housing crisis for a modular housing firm. She has always enjoyed the work of navigating the intersections where community effort meets policy.
As the first Mexican American ever elected to the Salt Lake City Council, Eva’s track record is one of action. Whether it’s saving the 10th East Senior Center from budget cuts, or saving Abravenel Hall as the home of the Utah Symphony—to the residents and local businesses of Salt Lake City, the message is clear: Eva shows up.
Now
Eva Lopez Chavez is running for US Congress because she believes that Utah will thrive when every voice is heard, and when every resident feels valued. She will always work to reach out for the inclusion of diverse perspectives, and to represent the communities that have raised her. At the core of each of her platform goals is a drive to ensure that all community members have equal access to resources and opportunities.
“It’s time for the next generation of leadership, and I’m ready to step up.”
Gen Z
First generation American
First Mexican elected to City Hall
BA Political Science
Former SLCo Party Chair 2021 - 2023
Current SLC Councilwoman - Downtown/SLC