Democrats are in for a highly competitive and messy primary to take on freshman GOP Rep. Gabe Evans in a crucial Colorado battleground district.
A half dozen Democrats, including former Rep. Yadira Caraveo, are vying for the nomination in Colorado’s 8th District so far. The competitive seat in the northern Denver suburbs will be one of the most expensive and closely watched House races in the nation.
Caraveo, who lost to Evans by about 2,500 votes last cycle, has been plagued by allegations of staff mistreatment. Caraveo has also spoken about her mental health struggles while in office.
So far, neither Democratic leadership, the DCCC or any Democrats in the Colorado delegation have backed Caraveo. And the House Republican campaign arm is hardly attacking Caraveo any more than her Democratic opponents.
Caraveo’s campaign has circulated polls showing she has a lead and dismissed coverage of her personal struggles.
“She opened up about her mental health issues because she wants to remove the stigma that still surrounds them and encourage people who are suffering to seek treatment,” said Jacob Barr, Caraveo’s campaign manager.
Zoom out: In addition to Caraveo, Colorado state Reps. Manny Rutinel and Shannon Bird, State Treasurer Dave Young, former Colorado teachers’ union head Amie Baca-Oehlert and local consultant John Szemler are running.
Many Colorado Democrats view 30-year-old Rutinel as the most progressive candidate in the race. Rutinel has a strong fundraising operation, raising over $1 million in Q1 and ending with nearly $660,000 in cash on hand. Caraveo had only $330 cash on hand at the end of March, although she didn’t formally launch a comeback bid until mid-April.
Bird has a track record of supporting bipartisan legislation in the state legislature. Young will also have strong backing from labor groups, which could attract both moderate and progressive voters.
The DCCC isn’t planning to get involved in the primary right now. Instead, Democrats are attacking Evans over Medicaid cuts and his support for President Donald Trump’s agenda.
GOP strategy. Evans has defended his vote for the GOP reconciliation bill and its Medicaid cuts. Evans has also played up his personal background as the grandson of Mexican immigrants.
“Democrats have a base problem and are in an all-out primary battle to the Left,” said Delanie Bomar, Evans’ spokesperson.
The primary will be in June.
