Utah Senate Democrats Call for Sen. Kathleen Riebe's Resignation After Discrimination Findings

Utah Senate Democrats Call for Sen. Kathleen Riebe’s Resignation After Discrimination Findings

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Five Democratic state senators voted Tuesday to remove Sen. Kathleen Riebe from their caucus and demanded her resignation, releasing their statement less than an hour before polls closed on Election Day, KUER reported. The move came two days after an independent investigation concluded that Riebe engaged in a pattern of conduct likely motivated by race, national origin, or ethnicity, and made statements about employment decisions based on sexual orientation and other protected characteristics.

The caucus’s rebuke came the same night Utah Democrats were marking electoral wins elsewhere, highlighting how harshly the party’s own member was judged. Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, Minority Whip Karen Kwan, Assistant Whip Jen Plumb, and Sens. Stephanie Pitcher and Nate Blouin signed the joint statement calling the investigation’s conclusions “deeply unsettling and will not be tolerated.”

What the Investigation Found

The formal complaint alleging workplace discrimination and harassment led to an independent investigation whose findings were published Nov. 2. According to the Democratic caucus statement, the probe concluded there was a “pattern of conduct towards others that was likely motivated by race, national origin, or ethnicity.” It also revealed “statements concerning employment decisions involving individuals based on their sexual orientation or other protected characteristics,” KUER reported.

Senate Minority Caucus calls for Sen. Kathleen Riebe to resign after investigation

The Salt Lake Tribune obtained a summary of the investigation signed by outgoing Senate President Stuart Adams, which found it “more likely than not” that Riebe engaged in the alleged conduct. The summary detailed specific violations, including directing staff to place interns with her office based on the interns’ sexual orientation and violating legislative policy. As corrective action, Riebe would not be assigned Senate staff or a legislative intern, would be moved to a new office to separate her from Senate staff, and would be required to complete additional harassment training.

A Senate spokesperson declined to release the full investigation report, citing confidentiality. “To protect the confidentiality of those involved, the Senate will not comment on further specific details of the investigation,” the spokesperson told the Utah News Dispatch, according to Yahoo News.

A Pattern of Consequences in the Utah Senate

This marks the second time in four years that Utah Senate Democrats have pressured one of their own to step down over misconduct allegations. The Salt Lake Tribune noted that Sen. Gene Davis, the last Democrat forced to resign from the body, stepped down before the end of his term in 2022 after fellow Democrats stripped him of committee assignments amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Riebe, a Democrat from Cottonwood Heights, is not up for reelection until 2028, meaning her current term runs through Jan. 1, 2029, according to Yahoo News. She did not immediately respond to requests for comment and did not attend the Utah Democrats’ election night watch party in Salt Lake City.

Utah Senate Democrats Call for Sen. Kathleen Riebe's Resignation After Discrimination Findings
Photo: yahoo.com

Riebe’s Political Career and Recent Runs

After her election to the Senate in 2020, Riebe sought higher office twice. In 2023, she was the Democratic nominee in a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, who stepped down mid-term; Republican Celeste Maloy won that race 57% to 33%, KUER reported. More recently, she was the first Democrat to enter the race for Utah’s newly drawn, left-leaning 1st Congressional District but dropped out ahead of the Democratic Nominating Convention in April, ultimately endorsing former Rep. Ben McAdams.

An educator who trains teachers in rural school districts, Riebe was manager of the Senate Democratic caucus. Born in Long Island, New York, she moved to Utah 34 years ago and has worked as a police dispatcher, dump truck driver, wildland firefighter, and in outdoor education programs, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

What Happens Next

The Democratic caucus has stopped short of forcing Riebe from office, as only the full Senate or Riebe herself can end her term early. With the caucus vote removing her from the Democratic caucus, she now sits as an independent or unaffiliated senator while retaining her seat until 2028 or until she resigns. KUER has reached out to Riebe for comment, and the story remains developing.

For Utah Democrats, the statement emphasized accountability standards: “We expect elected officials to uphold both the law and this institution’s standards. No elected official or leader is above accountability.” Whether Riebe heeds the call to resign before her term expires Jan. 1, 2029, remains the open question.

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