Colorado state Rep. Gabe Evans, one of four Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the battleground 8th Congressional District, raised more than $170,000 in the last three months of 2023, his campaign said Monday.

The Fort Lupton Republican’s campaign plans to report starting the year with just over $186,000 in the bank. His campaign said Evans, who entered the primary in September, tallied contributions from nearly 2,000 unique donors last year, for an average donation of just under $95.

Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician and former state lawmaker, is seeking a second term representing the state’s newest congressional seat, which covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties north of the Denver metro area.

Targeted by both national parties’ House campaign committees, the closely divided 8th CD has been pegged a toss-up by election forecasters and could determine which party controls the chamber after this fall’s election.

In a statement, Evans said he was grateful so many supporters had contributed to his campaign.

“They know I am the candidate best equipped to fight back against Yadira Caraveo’s far-left policies and shake up Washington, D.C.,” the Army combat veteran and former Arvada police officer said. “The momentum behind our ‘fight back’ campaign grows by the day.”

Evans’ finance co-chair, Transwest president George Eidsness, said in a statement that his candidate was the Republican best-positioned to take on the incumbent.

“As someone who lives and works in the 8th Congressional District,” Eidsness said, “I look forward to helping Gabe Evans to victory in 2024.”

The other Republicans running in the district are Weld County Commissioner Scott James, a longtime talk radio host and former chairman of the Weld County GOP; former state Rep. Janak Joshi, a former physician who moved into the district this month from Colorado Springs; and first-time candidate Joe Andujo, a health insurance agent from Fort Collins.

Fourth quarter reports — covering fundraising and expenditures from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 — are due to the Federal Election Commission by midnight Wednesday. None of the other candidates for the seat had filed or released their quarterly fundraising numbers by Monday afternoon.

The Democrat outraised her Republican challengers in the previous quarter by a wide margin.

For the third quarter, Caraveo reported raising $453,000 and had $910,000 on hand at the end of September. In the same period, James brought in just over $109,000 and finished with almost $79,000, while Evans reported $103,000 in receipts — including a $20,000 loan from the candidate — and had more than $95,000 left over.

Andujo joined the primary in November, so is expected to file his first report this week. Joshi, who announced his candidacy after the end of the fourth quarter, won’t be required to report fundraising until April.

Colorado’s precinct caucuses are in early March, and the congressional primary is June 25.