U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans was named Wednesday to the congressional Problem Solvers Caucus, an appointment that means he will be part of key bipartisan policy negotiations and which blocks a prominent Colorado Democrat from campaigning against him in two years.
The Fort Lupton Republican, who was sworn into office last week after unseating Democrat Yadira Caraveo in November, is one of four new members of Congress — two of them from Colorado — appointed to the caucus.
About 60 representatives are part of the invitation-only caucus, which was formed in 2017 and meets weekly to try to bridge partisan divides. The caucus has played a big role in negotiations on major policy initiatives in recent years on health care, COVID-19 relief and congressional rules.
“Whether it’s securing the border, cracking down on fentanyl, or lowering costs, there is plenty that we all can agree on no matter our political preferences,” Evans said in a written statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus to deliver results.”
Evans will be one of three Coloradans in the caucus. Newly elected U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, was another one of the first-year representatives appointed to the group. Like Evans, Hurd was elected to Congress for the first time in November.
U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, was reappointed to the caucus. Because the second-term congresswoman is in the caucus with Evans, Pettersen won’t be able to work to block his reelection in two years. That’s because members of the caucus agree not to campaign against each other.
Evans is likely to face a tough reelection fight in 2026 in the toss-up 8th Congressional District, which spans the northeastern Denver suburbs along U.S. 85 into Greeley.
Evans beat Caraveo by 2,500 votes, or less than a percentage point, last year.