Army vet Gabe Evans flips Colorado House district red

Colorado State Rep. Gabe Evans (R) has won the race for the state's 8th Congressional District, The Hill/Decision Desk HQ projects.

Evans, an Army combat veteran, defeated one-term Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D) in the district that spreads from northern Denver to Fort Collins, Colo.

Republicans had been eyeing the seat as a potential pickup opportunity after Caraveo, the first Latina to represent the state in Congress, did not cross the 50 percent threshold during her 2022 victory.

In a play to hold the House majority, GOP lawmakers also cited voters’ concerns around crime and immigration as a pathway to flip the seat.

The 8th District is relatively new, being carved out after the Centennial State gained an extra seat following the 2020 Census. In the previous election, the district went for President Biden by close to 5 percentage points.

Polling published less than a week before Election Day showed the incumbent leading Evans, who is also Hispanic, in favorability 46 percent to 43 percent. Each candidate scored 47 percent unfavorable rating in the Oct. 28 survey from Emerson College Polling/KDVR/KWGN/The Hill.

In that poll, Caraveo had a slim lead over the Republican state lawmaker, garnering 48 percent support to his 46 percent — but nearly 7 percent were still undecided.

During a debate earlier this month, both candidates struggled to answer the moderators' questions.

Evans, who has the backing of former President Trump, was primarily pressed on corporal punishment in schools and Trump’s immigration rhetoric. Caraveo was also questioned about her seemingly moderate position on securing the border.

The Hill/DDHQ labeled the district as “leaning Democrat” ahead of the election.