U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat, has been campaigning for fellow Democrats across the state and country while seeking reelection to a fourth term representing Colorado’s Democratic-leaning 6th Congressional District.

Colorado Politics spoke with Crow early Tuesday afternoon about the election and its aftermath. Earlier in the day, Crow joined a slew of the state’s top Democrats at a canvas launch to get out the vote for U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, the Thornton Democrat running in Colorado’s most competitive House district. The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Colorado Politics: How are you feeling about things today?

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow: I am cautiously optimistic, but I’m ready to go, to get this done.

CP: You were helping Yadira Caraveo kick off a big canvas this morning, and it looked like almost everyone in the party was up there.

Crow: We had the whole crew there, there’s no doubt about it. That was the place to be, and energy was high, it was a packed house. You know, I’m feeling really good about her campaign. She’s done an incredible job, and it’s been a tough campaign, but you can tell — the energy and enthusiasm, the the volunteer base is jazzed. It reminds me of 2018 in CD 6.

CP: What’s your prediction in the presidential race, both here in Colorado and around the country?

Crow: Well, there’s no doubt that it’s a close race nationally. Vice President Harris is going to win Colorado, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. This is Harris country here. But it’s close nationally. I’ve spent some time in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania the last couple of weeks, and it is a tight election. And that’s where I’m cautiously optimistic. I think Vice President Harris will get this done. I think she’ll win.

I think we may not know tonight. In fact, it’s likely we won’t know tonight, and I want to prepare folks for that, that we’ll wait for all the votes to be counted, for the votes to come in before we can call an election. So that might require some patience, but I believe that Vice President Harris is in a position to win.

CP: However it plays out, it looks like it’s close to a 50-50 race around the country —

Crow: I want to correct something here. When you say it’s a 50-50 race, you’re talking about the win percentage. Vice President Harris is going to win the popular vote. There’s just no doubt in my mind about that, That the majority of Americans are going to vote for her, and I think that the evidence certainly supports that. In the swing states, that makes it tight, and then that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.

CP: Still, close to half the country, let’s say somewhere in the neighborhood of 40%, is not going to be on board with a Harris victory, and probably about the same percentage if Trump wins. What do you tell people, about how divided the country is, and where do we go from here?

Crow: Well, I mean, it’s not going to come as any surprise when I say that the country is indeed deeply divided. Families are divided, neighbors are divided in many instances — this has been a very toxic and vitriolic campaign cycle, that is true. And that’s why I think we need leaders and leadership that focuses on uniting people, finding common ground and who are dedicated to be leaders for everybody, not just those who voted for them. And that’s what Vice President Harris has repeatedly said, that’s what I repeatedly say.

There are thousands of people who won’t vote for me today, and that’s just the nature of my district and our community. But I will be very clear that I will serve them. My doors will be open to them and their families if they need help with issues, and I will be here to do my best to represent them and to be their voice. That is my promise always. And Vice President Harris has also made that promise, and I know she means it. That’s the type of leadership we need right now, to bridge those divides and find the path forward for all of us.

CP: What are you hearing from people, what do they want from their elected leaders, and what are you hoping Vice President Harris and and possibly a Democratic-controlled House will be able to move forward?

Crow: People are really tired of the vitriol, extremely tired of the tension, the fighting, the vitriol. They want positive leadership. They want leaders who will bring us together. Because I really, honestly believe that when Americans are working together, when we are at our best and we are working together, and we are finding common ground through all of our diversity and differences, that we are unstoppable. Economically, on a national security perspective, we always do our greatest things when we’re working together, and when we unleash that power of collaboration and unity, we can do great things. And I think that’s what America wants. We want to get to that point where we can do that.

CP: How are you going to be spending the rest of the day?

Crow: I’ll be hanging with my family. I’m going to pick my kids up a little early from school, and then we’re going to head downtown and hang with family and friends and supporters and watch the results come in. And then when I’m done doing interviews and making my speech, maybe I will have an old fashioned.

CP: All right, what’s your preferred whiskey?

Crow: I usually do Woodford Reserve. I actually have a “Crow fashioned.” It’s a recipe I’ve worked for years to refine, and maybe, if you’re really nice to me, I will divulge the recipe to you.

CP: OK, we’ll talk after the election.