In 8th District, Yadira Caraveo relies on prior record to fill resume gap
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U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo speaks at a news conference in 2023. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo is leaning on her work in the Colorado Capitol — not the U.S. Capitol — in her re-election bid.
Why it matters: The Democratic congresswoman spent her first two years in the minority party, where passing legislation is more difficult, and she needs to fill the gaps in her resume as she competes in one of the nation's most closely watched 2024 races.
State of play: In her first Spanish commercial, which began airing last week, Caraveo touts her record addressing the rising cost of living by "expanding free kindergarten and preschool, cutting wasteful spending, cutting taxes for working families and capping the cost of prescriptions."
- Three of those efforts — early schooling, taxes and prescription drugs — came in 2020 and 2021 when she served in the Colorado House, as part of the Democratic majority.
- The trio again appeared in her platform for her 2022 run — and now is being repeated in 2024.
The intrigue: The one place where she cites her congressional experience, she leans on GOP talking points about cutting "wasteful spending" in an appropriations bill to prove her point.
- In response to a question about the claim, her campaign pointed Axios Denver to a Republican Party press release touting that the budget bill cut $100 million in spending requested by President Biden.
Yes, but: She voted against the first version of the bill drafted by Republicans but later decided to support the version amended by the Democratic U.S. Senate.
What she's saying: "She understands that a divided government requires bipartisan solutions, and is committed to working across party lines to deliver results," campaign spokesperson Kevin Porter said in a statement
The other side: Her Republican opponent in the 8th District race faces a similar situation.
- State Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton) spent his first term in the Colorado Capitol in the minority, where roughly 40% of his bills died amid opposition from the Democratic majority.
Between the lines: In his first campaign ad, Evans doesn't even mention he served as a state lawmaker, instead leaning on his background in the military and law enforcement as he talks about the U.S. southern border crisis.