Yadira Caraveo
Democrat — U.S. Representative, CO-8

Yadira Caraveo

Pediatrician elected to Congress 2022; holds competitive toss-up Colorado district; top target 2026

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~1,700
Vote margin, 2022
R+1
CO-8 District Lean
2026
Re-election Year
MD
Pediatrician, 1st Latina CO

Career Timeline

Year Event
1980s Born in Colorado to immigrant parents; grew up in working-class Denver suburb
Early 2000s Completed medical school; trained as a pediatrician in Colorado
2010s Practiced pediatric medicine in the Denver metro area; community health advocate
2021 CO-8 created by redistricting as a new majority-minority district covering Greeley/Weld County
2022 Won Democratic primary for new CO-8 seat; defeated Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer by ~1,700 votes in November
2023 Sworn in as first Latina elected to represent Colorado in U.S. House; joins Agriculture and Science committees
2024 Re-election campaign in competitive R+1 district; faces ongoing Republican targeting
2026 Up for re-election; rated toss-up by major forecasters; one of DCCC's most defended incumbents

Policy Positions

Issue Position Key Action
Healthcare Expand access Pushed for lower prescription drug costs; supports ACA expansion; children's health focus from pediatric career
Agriculture Farm district priorities Agriculture Committee member; supports water rights, crop insurance, rural broadband for Weld County
Immigration Moderate/pragmatic Represents majority-Latino district; supports border security with pathways for agricultural workers
Energy Balanced approach Weld County has oil/gas industry; Caraveo has sought bipartisan middle ground on energy transition
Mental health Champion Pediatrician perspective; introduced legislation to expand children's mental health services
Bipartisanship Moderate Democrat One of most moderate House Democrats; votes with Republicans on select issues to protect competitive seat
Background

Pediatrician Turned Politician

Yadira Caraveo grew up in Colorado in an immigrant family before earning her medical degree and practicing as a pediatrician in the Denver suburbs. She entered politics through the creation of Colorado's new 8th congressional district in 2021 redistricting, which was drawn as a majority-minority seat covering Greeley and Weld County. Her 2022 victory made her the first Latina elected to represent Colorado in the U.S. House.

District Profile

Greeley, Weld County — Energy & Agriculture

CO-8 spans communities from Brighton and Fort Lupton to Greeley and Ault, with a large Hispanic population and an economy tied to oil and gas, agriculture, and meatpacking. The district was designed to elect a minority-community representative but leans slightly Republican in federal races. Weld County is one of Colorado's most conservative, creating a difficult balancing act for any Democrat holding this seat.

2026 Outlook

Top Republican Target — Toss-Up

Caraveo won in 2022 by fewer than 1,700 votes and is consistently rated among the most endangered Democratic incumbents. Republicans have invested heavily in flipping CO-8. She is on the DCCC's Frontline program for protected incumbents. Her ability to win again will depend on her local name recognition, moderate positioning, and the broader political environment of 2026.

Electoral History

Year Race Result Margin
2026 CO-8 re-election Up for re-election — rated Toss-Up TBD
2022 CO-8 (new district, open seat) Caraveo 48.7% — Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) 48.3% D +0.4

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