Yadira Caraveo

Yadira D. Caraveo ( ; born December 23, 1980) is an American politician and pediatrician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2023 to 2025. A Democrat, she was Colorado's first Latina member of Congress.

She represented the 31st district in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. The district covered parts of Adams and Weld counties. She was elected to the United States Congress in 2022. Caraveo narrowly lost re-election in 2024 to Republican Gabe Evans. In April 2025, she announced her candidacy to return to Congress in the 2026 election. She withdrew from the race in September 2025, citing her struggle with mental health and the stigmatization of mental health issues. She received her bachelor's degree from Regis University and later her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. where she was also involved with the Committee of Interns and Residents union for resident physicians.

Colorado House of Representatives During her tenure as a state legislator, Caraveo was also a pediatrician practicing in Thornton, Colorado. She has also served on the board of trustees for the Anythink Library system in Adams County since 2017.

Election Caraveo was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 55% of the vote to Republican nominee Rico Figueroa's 39%.

Tenure Caraveo sponsored a bill giving free contraceptives and reproductive care to illegal immigrants, citing studies showing that the program lowers maternal mortality and infant mortality rates. She sponsored a bill that would put an age requirement on some cannabis products, require coroners to conduct a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) test for all "unnatural deaths", and put a cap on potency levels in products. Caraveo argued the bill would stop younger people from getting addicted to cannabis, while opponents argued testing would be racially motivated. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican members of the legislature and disavowed by Democratic House speaker Alec Garnett. She was the lead sponsor of a sex education law that prohibited abstinence-only curriculum and required schools to teach students about consent.

Committees During the 73rd general assembly, Caraveo served on the following committees: Health & Insurance (Vice Chair) Education

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

On August 24, 2021, Caraveo announced her candidacy for . She was endorsed by former Colorado speaker of the House KC Becker, state senator Faith Winter, state senator Jessie Danielson, and others. On April 5, 2022, Caraveo secured the Democratic nomination. On November 9, 2022, Caraveo defeated Republican nominee Barbara Kirkmeyer in the general election, becoming Colorado's first Latina member of Congress.

2024

Caraveo ran for re-election in 2024 against Republican Gabe Evans. She was defeated by Evans in the general election.

2026

On April 15, 2025, Caraveo announced that she would run to retake her seat in Congress in the 2026 election.

Committee assignments For the 118th Congress: Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development (Ranking Member) Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics

Caucus memberships Rare Disease Caucus

Personal life Caraveo is Roman Catholic.

In August 2024, Caraveo announced that she had begun treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. This followed two incidents where Caraveo had attempted suicide by overdosing on medication at her home in Thornton and district office in Northglenn. These incidents were witnessed by staff members. Caraveo's suicide attempts led aides to propose a safety plan that would remove sharp objects from Caraveo's office and assure staffers that they would not be responsible for talking Caraveo "through suicidal thoughts" or "keeping her company during a crisis", according to The Colorado Sun. Caraveo rejected the safety plan, giving staffers an ultimatum to contend with her mental health challenges or resign within a day. Staffers said they felt mistreated and taken advantage of. In a statement to the Colorado Sun, Caraveo wrote that she was "in a dark place when I was suffering from depression and I know the disease led me to treat my friends, family, and my staff in ways that I regret".

Electoral history + Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing . Total % . Total % . 2018 State House Democratic 6,049 100.0 1st 16,242 55.02 1st Hold 2020 9,677 100.0 1st 27,687 100.0 1st Hold 2022 U.S. House 38,837 100.0 1st 114,377 48.36 1st Win 202435,409100.01st160,87148.222ndWin Source: Secretary of State of Colorado Election Results