Saira Rao, a Denver Democrat challenging 11-term U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in a primary, on Thursday called on Colorado’s congressional delegation to boycott President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address next week, saying that attending the speech in Washington will only “legitimize” the Republican.

Instead, Rao said she’s sponsoring an alternative event on Tuesday night at a local brewery where Denver residents can discuss what she termed “the pressing issues plaguing our communities.”

“We cannot legitimize a man who brags about being a rapist, embraces white supremacy, and pushes policies that harm our most vulnerable citizens,” Rao, the daughter of Indian immigrants and an attorney and owner of a publishing and media company, said in a statement. “Why would anyone give him an audience? Colorado’s congressional delegation needs to lead by example and stay home.”

Spokespersons for DeGette and the three other Democrats Colorado sends to Congress, however, said the lawmakers plan to attend the annual address, which is scheduled to take place before a joint session of Congress, and at least some will be using the opportunity to highlight differences with Trump over immigration policy.

“As of now, Rep. DeGette is planning to attend. But she has given her guest spot to another member of the Colorado delegation,” a spokeswoman for DeGette told Colorado Politics, noting that it’s a fairly common practice for members of Congress to hand off their guest passes. DeGette’s is going to U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican.

Gardner’s Democratic colleague, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, plans to attend the speech, a spokeswoman said.

DeGette’s fellow Democratic House members, U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis, who is running for governor, are attending and have invited, respectively, the daughter of an immigrant who was deported last month and an undocumented immigrant brought to the United States as a child – a participant in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program rescinded by Trump, also known as a Dreamer.

Perlmutter’s guest will be Viviana Andazola Marquez, a Yale student who didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to her father, Melecio Andazola-Morales, a Perlmutter spokeswoman said. Detained by immigration officials when he went to a scheduled appointment that was part of a process to obtain a green card, Andazola-Morales was deported on Dec. 15 despite efforts by Perlmutter and Polis.

Five House Democrats have said they plan to skip Trump’s speech – U.S. Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Maxine Waters of California, Frederica Wilson of Florida, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon.

At the same time as Trump’s speech, Rao is throwing an event her campaign has dubbed the “State of OUR Union” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Declaration Brewing, 2030 S. Cherokee St., in Denver, and is inviting the public to discuss DACA and other immigration concern, universal health care, affordable housing, the environment and criminal justice reform.

“Let’s change the script,” Rao said in a written statement. “Not another minute giving his hateful words a platform. His words and his actions are causing mental and physical harm to all of us, including children, many of whom have experienced massive anxiety over the past year. Instead, why don’t we come together, share OUR stories, and talk about ways to move forward in a kind and meaningful way? Together.”

Two other Democrats, David Sedbrook and Michelle Hudson Hale, are also running in the heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District, which includes Denver, Glendale, Englewood, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village and portions of Jefferson County in the southwest metro area.

Three Republicans are campaigning for the seat, too – John Field, Jeremiah Vialpando and 2016 GOP nominee Casper Stockham, who launched his second bid earlier this month.