Erin Mendenhall

Erin Mendenhall
Erin Mendenhall
Born	8 6, 1980
Birthplace	Arizona, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, air quality activist
Known for	Mayor of Salt Lake City; air quality advocacy
Awards	ESA Regional Policy Award (2020), BioUtah Award, City Weekly Best of Utah

Erin Mendenhall (born June 8, 1980) is an American politician and clean air advocate serving as the 36th Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, a position she has held since January 6, 2020. Upon taking office, Mendenhall became the city's third woman to serve as mayor—following Deedee Corradini and Jackie Biskupski—and the youngest woman to hold the position. Before becoming mayor, Mendenhall represented the city's 5th district on the Salt Lake City Council from 2014 to 2020 and was recognized for her work on air quality issues in the Salt Lake Valley. Her career prior to elected office centered on environmental advocacy, particularly through her role at Breathe Utah, a nonprofit organization focused on improving air quality in the state. As mayor, Mendenhall has focused on public safety, housing affordability, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure improvements during a period of significant growth for Utah's capital city.

Early Life

Erin Mendenhall was born on June 8, 1980, in Arizona. Details about her childhood and upbringing in Arizona remain limited in published sources. She later relocated to Utah, where she became involved in environmental and community advocacy work in the Salt Lake City area.

Before entering politics, Mendenhall developed a professional background in air quality and environmental policy. She worked as an air quality advocate and became associated with Breathe Utah, a Utah-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean air policies and raising awareness about the health effects of air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley. The Salt Lake Valley, situated in a geographic basin flanked by the Wasatch Range and the Oquirrh Mountains, is prone to temperature inversions that trap pollutants close to the ground, making air quality a significant public health concern in the region. Mendenhall's work in this area brought her into contact with state regulatory bodies, including the Utah Air Quality Board, where she gained experience working on policy solutions to the region's air quality challenges.

Her advocacy work and growing public profile in the environmental policy sphere positioned Mendenhall as a candidate for elected office, and she transitioned into politics through her successful campaign for the Salt Lake City Council in 2013.

Career

Salt Lake City Council (2014–2020)

Mendenhall began her career in elected office on the Salt Lake City Council, representing the city's 5th district. She took office on January 6, 2014, succeeding Jill Remington Love. During her tenure on the council, Mendenhall focused on environmental issues, particularly air quality, and worked to advance sustainability initiatives within the city government.

As a council member, Mendenhall established herself as an advocate for clean air policies, drawing on her professional experience at Breathe Utah. Her work on the council addressed land use, transportation planning, and environmental regulation—areas she viewed as interconnected with the air quality challenges facing the Salt Lake Valley. She also engaged with neighborhood and community issues affecting the 5th district, which encompasses portions of Salt Lake City's east side.

Mendenhall served on the council for six years, during which time she built a reputation as a policy-focused legislator. Her council tenure overlapped with the mayoral administration of Jackie Biskupski, who served as Salt Lake City's 35th mayor from 2016 to 2020. When Biskupski announced she would not seek re-election, Mendenhall entered the 2019 mayoral race.

In the 2017 election cycle, the council saw transitions in other seats, with new members joining the body following competitive races for open positions. Mendenhall continued to serve on the council through the end of her term while simultaneously campaigning for the mayor's office.

2019 Mayoral Campaign

Mendenhall ran for mayor of Salt Lake City in the 2019 election. Throughout the campaign, she emphasized her background as an air quality activist and her record on environmental policy during her time on the city council. Her platform focused on environmental sustainability, public safety, affordable housing, and transportation.

The campaign featured a competitive primary and general election. Mendenhall faced state senator Luz Escamilla in the general election after both candidates advanced through the primary. On November 5, 2019, Mendenhall won the general election, with Escamilla conceding the race. Local media reported that Mendenhall appeared headed for a clear victory as results came in on election night.

The Deseret News profiled Mendenhall during the campaign, noting her longstanding focus on pollution and air quality issues as a defining characteristic of her public career. The Salt Lake Tribune similarly described her as a "longtime air quality activist" who brought an environmental policy focus to the mayoral race.

Mayor of Salt Lake City (2020–present)

Mendenhall was inaugurated as the 36th Mayor of Salt Lake City on January 6, 2020, succeeding Jackie Biskupski. She was succeeded on the Salt Lake City Council's 5th district seat by Darin Mano. Upon taking office, Mendenhall became the third woman and the youngest woman to serve as mayor of Salt Lake City, following Deedee Corradini (who served from 1992 to 2000) and Jackie Biskupski (2016 to 2020).

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Mendenhall's first year in office was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required the city government to implement emergency public health measures. The pandemic presented challenges for the new administration, including the need for rapid policy responses regarding business closures, public health protocols, and economic relief.

During the early months of the pandemic in 2020, Mendenhall faced threats related to the city's COVID-19 restrictions. In April 2020, a man was reported to have threatened the mayor over the restrictions, prompting a police response.

Mendenhall delivered her second State of the City Address virtually from the City Council Chambers at the City & County Building on January 26, 2021, reflecting the ongoing impact of the pandemic on city governance.

Public Safety and Affordability

Throughout her tenure, Mendenhall has emphasized public safety and housing affordability as central priorities of her administration. In her seventh State of the City address, delivered on January 27, 2026, at City Hall East (the former Leonardo building), Mendenhall described the state of the city as "determined" and outlined achievements in public safety, affordability, and environmental policy for Salt Lake City residents.

Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives

Consistent with her background in environmental advocacy, Mendenhall has pursued sustainability initiatives during her time as mayor. In February 2026, the mayor's office and the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department launched the fourth year of the SLC Food Microgrant program, which provides grants to increase food access and community gardening throughout the city. The program, which began during Mendenhall's administration, reflects the city's broader efforts to promote sustainability and food security at the community level.

Infrastructure Projects

Mendenhall's administration has overseen significant infrastructure projects in Salt Lake City. In September 2025, the city celebrated the reopening of the improved 2100 South street, a major reconstruction project that was completed ahead of schedule. The reopening was marked by "Sugar Fest," an event welcoming the public back to the Sugar House neighborhood on October 4, 2025.

Immigration Enforcement Controversy

In January 2026, Mendenhall addressed a controversy regarding a rumored U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Salt Lake City. The mayor sent a letter to the owner of a Salt Lake City warehouse warning that the building was not up to code for use as an ICE detention facility and that such a use would be unlawful without necessary changes to bring the property into compliance with local building codes. The action drew attention as communities across the United States debated the expansion of immigration enforcement infrastructure during that period.

National League of Cities and Olympic Preparations

In November 2025, Salt Lake City hosted the National League of Cities' City Summit 2025. Mendenhall appeared on the CitiesSpeak Podcast in a special episode recorded from City Hall, discussing the summit and the city's role as host.

In October 2025, Mendenhall's office announced that Salt Lake City would host a first-of-its-kind watch party for Utahns to celebrate the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, marking 100 days before the start of the games. The event reflected Salt Lake City's continued engagement with the Olympic movement, particularly given that the city is a former host of the 2002 Winter Olympics and has been involved in efforts to bring future Olympic Games back to Utah.

Personal Life

Mendenhall was previously married to Jared Mendenhall; the couple divorced in 2014.

In 2025 and 2026, Mendenhall publicly discussed being the target of stalking and threats. In a case covered by local media, a man was convicted of stalking the mayor, with Mendenhall stating in court that she "felt disgusted" and feared for her and her family's safety during the events. A judge commented on the seriousness of the case. This incident followed an earlier reported threat against Mendenhall in April 2020, when a man threatened the mayor over COVID-19 restrictions.

Recognition

Mendenhall has received several awards and recognitions during her career in public service and environmental advocacy.

In August 2020, Mendenhall was selected as the 2020 Regional Policy Award winner by the Ecological Society of America (ESA). The award recognized her work on environmental and ecological policy issues.

Mendenhall has also been recognized by BioUtah, a trade association representing Utah's life sciences industry, through its annual awards program.

The City Weekly, a Salt Lake City alternative newspaper, included Mendenhall in its "Best of Utah" features. She was recognized in the publication's 2021 Best of Utah edition and again in a subsequent year's edition covering the best in restaurants, bars, entertainment, nightlife, media, and politics in Utah.

In 2022, the Community Action Partnership of Utah recognized Mendenhall with an Excellence in Community Action award at its annual Poverty Conference.

Legacy

As of 2026, Mendenhall continues to serve as mayor of Salt Lake City and has held the office for over six years. Her tenure has been defined by a focus on environmental sustainability, public safety, housing affordability, and infrastructure investment during a period of population growth and development in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.

Mendenhall's background as an air quality advocate prior to entering politics has shaped her approach to governance, with environmental policy remaining a consistent theme throughout her time on the city council and as mayor. The SLC Food Microgrant program, launched during her administration and entering its fourth year in 2026, represents one tangible outcome of her sustainability agenda.

Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning just weeks after she took office in January 2020, tested the new administration and required rapid adaptation to unprecedented public health and economic challenges. Mendenhall's response to the pandemic, including her virtual State of the City Address in 2021, reflected the broader national experience of municipal leaders navigating the crisis.

As the third woman and youngest woman to serve as mayor of Salt Lake City, Mendenhall's election in 2019 continued a pattern of female leadership in the city's executive office that began with Deedee Corradini in the 1990s. Her engagement with national organizations such as the National League of Cities, which held its 2025 City Summit in Salt Lake City, has positioned her as a participant in broader conversations about urban governance and municipal policy.

Mendenhall's handling of the rumored ICE detention facility in January 2026, in which she invoked local building codes to challenge the proposed use of a warehouse, drew attention as an example of municipal officials asserting local authority in the context of federal immigration enforcement.