Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo plans to report raising more than $2.2 million for the most recent quarter in her bid to win reelection in Colorado’s most competitive congressional district, her campaign said Friday.

The first-term representative headed into October with more than $2 million in the bank, her campaign said. It’s the largest quarterly haul yet for Caraveo and is so far the highest total reported by any Colorado congressional candidate this calendar year.

Caraveo, a pediatrician and former state lawmaker from Thornton, is facing a challenge from state Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican and former police officer, in the closely divided 8th Congressional District, which stretches from suburbs north of Denver to Greeley, covering portions of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties.

Polling released this week showed a tied race for the seat, which both sides agree could help determine which party controls the House after the November election. National forecasters at the Cook Political Report include the district among just 25 toss-up races nationally.

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Caraveo won election to the newly created district two years ago, defeating state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, by less than 1 percentage point. Since then, national Democratic and Republican congressional campaign committees and associated PACs have poured millions into the district, including reserving more than $13 million in airtime for a barrage of TV ads that began pummeling the two candidates around Labor Day.

Fundraising reports aren’t due until Oct. 15 for the three-month period that ended Sept. 30. A spokesman for Evans’ campaign said he will likely release his top-line numbers next week, ahead of the filing deadline.

The Republican has some catching-up to do. Through the end of the previous quarter, Caraveo held a massive fundraising advantage over Evans, with more than four times as much in total contributions and more than six times as much cash on hand.

Since winning the June primary, however, Evans has seen his fundraising accelerate, with a steady stream of GOP bigwigs trouping through the state to help the candidate raise money, including House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio headlining receptions for Evans and other Colorado Republicans this summer.

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Caraveo’s campaign manager said her candidate’s fundraising numbers demonstrate the Democrat’s ability to close the deal with voters.

“With just over 30 days until Election Day, it’s clear that Congresswoman Caraveo’s message is resonating,” said Mary Alice Blackstock in a statement.

“This strong fundraising quarter enables our grassroots, people-powered campaign to continue to reach voters across the 8th District on the issues that matter most,” she added. “There’s a clear contrast in this race, and Congresswoman Caraveo will continue to engage with Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters looking for a representative who will work across the aisle to defend reproductive freedom, lower costs for Colorado families, and get things done.”

A spokesman for Evans’ campaign countered that the Republican’s opponent might spend more money, but his candidate has a more effective message.

“Yadira Caraveo will continue to use her millions to try and dupe voters by hiding her extreme, far-left record of making Colorado a sanctuary state, decriminalizing fentanyl, and putting dangerous criminals back onto our streets,” Evans spokesman Alan Philp said in an emailed statement.

“It won’t work. Voters are ready to send a cop to Congress to fix her mess. That’s why Gabe Evans has all the momentum.”

Ballots start going in the mail to most Colorado voters on Oct. 11, just over three weeks before they’re due back to county clerks by 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

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