This week, Representative Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat from Colorado, spoke to a largely Latino audience during a Day of the Dead celebration. Her message focused on compassion and support for immigrants. “The Democratic Party is here to celebrate the Latino future of the United States and to work together to elevate our community,” she stated in Spanish. Caraveo criticized Republicans for using “ugly words” to portray immigrants negatively, referring to her own parents, who entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico.
However, in her campaign against Republican challenger Gabe Evans, Caraveo has shifted her tone. She has criticized the Biden administration for not addressing illegal immigration effectively and has promised to toughen border policies if re-elected in Colorado’s Eighth District. One of her campaign ads features a local sheriff stating, “Yadira Caraveo knows how broken immigration is, just like we do.” This comes after Caraveo was one of six House Democrats to support a Republican measure that condemned Vice President Kamala Harris for not securing the border.
Caraveo’s shift in approach reflects political necessity. As a first-term congresswoman in a competitive district, she is up against Evans, a Republican military veteran endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Evans has made border security a central issue in his campaign, blaming Caraveo for the challenges in this area.
The race is among about two dozen competitive contests that could decide which party controls the House, where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Caraveo’s strategy aligns with a growing trend among Democrats in battleground districts across the country. Many are adopting tougher immigration stances typically associated with Republicans to attract independent voters. Despite this strategy, it remains unclear if it will be effective.
This tactic was inspired by New York Democrat Tom Suozzi, who won a special election earlier this year by advocating for stricter immigration enforcement. Following the failure of a bipartisan border security deal, Democrats viewed Suozzi’s victory as evidence that they could win in tight races by appearing more practical and trustworthy than Republicans on immigration.
So far, evidence of success for this approach is limited. Nationally, border security continues to be a pressing issue. In Caraveo’s race, a recent poll indicated that 80 percent of voters who consider it a top issue support Evans.
Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District, created after the 2020 census, spans from northern Denver suburbs to agricultural areas near Greeley. Nearly 40 percent of residents are Latino, a demographic that supported Caraveo heavily two years ago. However, the district also includes strong Republican areas where residents have expressed concerns over recent increases in Venezuelan migrants and related crime.
Evans accused Caraveo of distancing herself from her voting record. In an interview, he stated, “She’s running as fast and as far away from her own record as she can.” He highlighted her votes on issues like drug penalties and police funding, asserting, “She voted for sanctuary city and state laws.”
Republican strategists see Democrats’ shift toward border security as a sign that the immigration debate has moved to the right in recent years, especially amid rising migration that strains public services in cities across the U.S.
Democratic leaders acknowledge that they may not win over voters primarily focused on immigration issues. However, they believe a pro-enforcement stance can broaden their appeal among swing voters. Representative Pete Aguilar of California, who campaigned with Caraveo, said, “Single-issue voters might be a challenge… but those who want to address the issue will look at Yadira’s record.”
Other Democrats in competitive races have similarly tried to distance themselves from their party’s more liberal immigration stance. In a recent campaign ad, Janelle Stelson, a former television anchor running against Republican Scott Perry in Pennsylvania, declared, “There’s a crisis on the border. Too many Democrats deny it.” She advocated for hiring more border agents and tougher policies on illegal immigration.
In Arizona, Democratic challenger Amish Shah emphasized his bipartisan work to enhance border security while addressing fentanyl trafficking.
Caraveo insisted that her focus on enforcement aligns with the views of many Latinos who feel frustrated with the immigration system. “Latino constituents… tell me they don’t have a way to immigrate legally… and they don’t understand why they don’t get that opportunity,” she explained.
Evans has also had to navigate immigration issues carefully. While he supports border security, he has distanced his rhetoric from Trump’s more extreme statements, emphasizing he is only interested in deporting criminals and gang members. He believes undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. without issues should have the chance to stay, stating, “A line that moves faster… but not necessarily a line that means they have to leave.”
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- A Bipartisan Breakthrough on U.S. Immigration Could Still Happen
- Arizona Voters Set to Approve Tough New Immigration Measures
