Democrat Yadira Caraveo announced Tuesday that she will try in 2026 to reclaim the 8th Congressional District seat she narrowly lost in November.
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Gabe Evans unseats Yadira Caraveo in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District
The victory by Evans, an Army veteran and former police officer, improves Republicans’ chances of keeping control of the U.S. House and securing unified control over the federal government
Read moreCaraveo lost her reelection bid to Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans by about 2,500 votes, or less than a percentage point, after a single term in Washington. She was the first person to represent the tossup district, which spans Denver’s northern suburbs along U.S. 85 into Greeley, and the first Latina elected to Congress from Colorado.
“The 8th District deserves a representative who’s looking out for them,” Caraveo said in a written statement announcing her candidacy.
Caraveo isn’t the only Democrat running in 2026 to represent the district. State Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City, jumped into the race at the end of January. He’s raised more than $1 million since.
Other Democrats interested in running in the 8th District in 2026 include Colorado Treasurer Dave Young, who is term-limited, and state Rep. Shannon Bird.
Caraveo was calling people last week who supported her past congressional campaigns to talk to them about her “plans for the future.” That was likely an early fundraising play as she works to catch up to Rutinel.
She had just about $45,000 in her campaign’s bank account at the end of last year.
Caraveo has been out of the public eye since her November 2024 loss. She reemerged in recent weeks to do a pair of interviews in which she revealed that she tried to kill herself at least twice last year, while she was in Congress and running for reelection, before seeking treatment for depression.
Caraveo had the highest rate of staff turnover among Colorado’s congressional delegation, and among the highest rates in Congress, during her term, according to a Colorado Sun analysis.
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Yadira Caraveo has among the highest staff turnover rates in Congress
Among the 10 members of Colorado’s congressional delegation, Caraveo has the highest rate of turnover during their tenures, according to LegiStorm
Read moreIn an interview last month with Colorado Public Radio, she conceded that her mental health issues were difficult for her staff.
“I know that it placed undue pressure on them, and I’ve apologized to them many times,” she told CPR.
The Democratic primary in the 8th District will be held in June 2026. The winner will face Evans in November 2026.
Evans’ team reveled Tuesday in the prospect of a “messy” Democratic primary in the district.
“Democrats officially have a base problem and are in an all-out primary battle to the left. Meanwhile, Congressman Gabe Evans hit the ground running,” Delanie Bomar, an Evans’ spokeswoman, said in a written statement.
Evans has been a congressman for only about fourth months, but already Democrats have been working to undermine him as the 2026 election approaches, including with ad campaigns.