Colorado’s Yadira Caraveo among vulnerable Democrats called out by House Republicans for skipping DNC
The House Republicans’ campaign arm wants people flocking to the Democratic National Convention to know that a handful of vulnerable Democratic incumbents — including U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo — won’t be on hand this week in Chicago.
Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician seeking reelection in Colorado’s battleground 8th Congressional District, is among five House Democrats targeted with a mobile billboard hired to circle the convention, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee told Colorado Politics.
“Have you seen me?” says the electronic billboard, alongside photographs of Vice President Kamala Harris and the five Democrats labeled “Harris enablers” by the NRCC.
In addition to Caraveo, the Republicans’ advertising features U.S. Reps. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington and Mary Peltola of Alaska — all running in seats the NRCC hopes to flip in November.
The four-day DNC kicks off Monday, with speeches scheduled by dozens of top Democrats, including President Joe Biden and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Harris is set to address delegates Thursday night.
A spokesman for Caraveo’s campaign told Colorado Politics that his boss isn’t attending the convention because she is focused on her race and speaking with constituents back home.
Caraveo is facing a challenge from state Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican, in Colorado’s most closely divided district, which covers parts of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties, north of the Denver metro area. Both parties list the seat among races that could determine which party wins the majority in the chamber after the fall election.
Although the national conventions draw thousands of delegates, activists, donors and journalists from across the country, it’s common for candidates in tight races from both parties to skip them, as demonstrated by Evans, who didn’t attend last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
A spokeswoman for the NRCC criticized Caraveo for deciding not to travel to Chicago for the convention after throwing her support behind Harris last month, on the same day Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris as his successor.
“Caraveo’s phony attempt to avoid the convention will not fool anyone — Coloradans know Caraveo will enable all of Kamala’s extreme policies.” NRCC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar said in a release.

