Washington, D.C. — Latino Victory Fund congratulated Dr. Yadira Caraveo for obtaining the Democratic nomination for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. If elected in November, Caraveo would be the first Latina and first physician elected to Congress in Colorado. In addition, Caraveo would be the second physician in Congress’ Hispanic delegation.
“Dr. Caraveo is a dedicated community leader and legislator who has advocated for issues that are now more critical than ever, including health care access and voting rights,” said Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund president & CEO. “As a staunch supporter of reproductive rights, a win for Dr. Caraveo in November means that there will be one more Latina fighting for reproductive rights in Congress. Coloradans will have a representative who will fight to ensure their families and communities thrive by focusing on lowering healthcare costs, improving the economy, and creating more jobs. These issues are priorities for Latinos and will help create a more inclusive and prosperous Colorado. Latino Victory is proud to support Dr. Caraveo and will work to ensure she becomes the first Latina elected to Congress from Colorado.”
Latino Victory’s endorsement is part of the organization’s efforts to increase the Latina bench in Congress. Latinas are currently less than 3 percent of the members of Congress, and in the U.S. House, only 13 out of the 435 voting members are Latina/Hispanic. In addition, the 8th Congressional District is considered the state’s most Hispanic congressional district, with 38 percent of its population identifying as Hispanic.
Meet Dr. Yadira Caraveo
- State Rep. Dr. Caraveo is a first-generation Mexican American, an accomplished pediatrician, legislator, and a successful advocate for children. Her parents came to Colorado from a small town in Mexico. They put four kids through college on a construction worker’s salary. Dr. Caraveo attended public schools in Adams County, received a degree from Regis University, and attended medical school at the University of Colorado.
- In medical school, Dr. Caraveo became a union representative with SEIU and was named a Champion of Change by President Obama for her work with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Caraveo chose to be a pediatrician in Adams County, but with 65% of her patients’ families on Medicaid, she quickly understood that truly helping children required a lot more than what she was able to do as a doctor.
- She was first elected to represent the 31st House District in 2018 and re-elected in 2020. Dr. Caraveo has stood up to big special interests and worked to pass historic legislation to force drug companies to lower the cost of prescriptions, drastically limit the toxic pollution that is endangering kids’ health and the planet, expand preschool funding, ensure all Coloradans have access to paid family and sick leave and protect renters from eviction during the pandemic.
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The Latino Victory Fund is a progressive political action committee with the mission of growing Latino political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government – from the school board to the Senate to the White House.
