Yadira Caraveo
Yadira Caraveo | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 8th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Constituency established |
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 31st district | |
In office January 4, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Joe Salazar |
Succeeded by | Said Sharbini |
Personal details | |
Born | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | December 23, 1980
Political party | Democratic |
Education | Regis University (BS) University of Colorado, Denver (MD) |
Website | House website |
Yadira D. Caraveo (born December 23, 1980) is an American politician and pediatrician serving as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 8th congressional district since 2023.[1][2] A Democrat, she is Colorado's first Latina member of Congress.[3][4]
Caraveo represented the 31st district in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. The district covered parts of Adams and Weld counties.
Early life and education
Caraveo was born in Colorado to Mexican illegal immigrant parents who arrived in the 1970s but were granted amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. She volunteered for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign while in medical school.[5] She received her bachelor's degree from Regis University and later her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.[6] Caraveo completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center,[7] where she was also involved with the Committee of Interns and Residents union for resident physicians.[8]
Colorado House of Representatives
Along with being a state legislator for part of the year, Caraveo is also a pediatrician practicing in Thornton, Colorado.[6] She has also served on the board of trustees for the Anythink Library system in Adams County since 2017.[9]
Election
Caraveo was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 55% of the vote to Republican nominee Rico Figueroa's 39%.[10]
Tenure
Caraveo sponsored a bill giving free contraceptives and reproductive care to undocumented immigrants, citing studies showing the program lowers maternal mortality and infant mortality rates.[11] She sponsored a bill that would put an age requirement on some cannabis products, require coroners to conduct a THC test for all "unnatural deaths", and put a cap on potency levels in products.[12] The bill was controversial, Caraveo argued it would stop younger people from getting addicted to cannabis and opponents argued testing would be racially motivated.[13][14] The bill was co-sponsored by Republican members of the legislature and disavowed by Democratic House Speaker Alec Garnett.[15] She also sponsored or helped craft other bills aimed at improving healthcare, supporting medical workers, early education, and lowering prescription drug costs, among other measures.[16]
Committees
During the 73rd general assembly, Caraveo serves on the following committees:[17]
- Health & Insurance (Vice Chair)
- Education
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
On August 24, 2021, Caraveo announced her candidacy for Colorado's 8th congressional district.[18] She was endorsed by former Colorado Speaker of the House KC Becker, State Senator Faith Winter, State Senator Jessie Danielson, and others.[19] On April 5, 2022, Caraveo secured the Democratic nomination.[20] She was Colorado's first Latina member of Congress.[21] On November 9, 2022, her opponent, Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer, conceded the race.[22]
Caucus memberships
Committee assignments
See also
References
- ^ Rakich, Nathaniel (November 10, 2022). "2022 Midterm Elections: Live Results And Latest Updates". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ Woodruff, Chase (November 9, 2022). "Democrat Caraveo upsets GOP's Kirkmeyer to win new 8th Congressional District seat in Colorado". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Latino voters make the difference, elect Dr. Yadira Caraveo as Colorado's first Latina in Congress". Al Día News. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ Fish, Sandra (November 14, 2022). "How Yadira Caraveo, used to being an underdog, became the first Latina from Colorado elected to Congress". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Jordan, Mary; Balz, Dan (November 2, 2018). "The faces of women in the 2018 midterms". Washington Post. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Colorado House District 31 candidate Q&A". The Denver Post. October 10, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ "Yadira Caraveo, MD". Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Frieden, Joyce (January 1, 2022). "Healthcare, Reproductive Rights a Big Part of Pediatrician's Congressional Campaign". Medpage Today. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ "Yadira Caraveo appointed to Anythink Board of Trustees". www.anythinklibraries.org. March 20, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ "Colorado Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ Nieberg, Patty (May 26, 2021). "Colorado bill would give free contraceptives to immigrants". AP News. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Birkeland, Bente (April 27, 2021). "Concerns Over Teens And High Potency Marijuana Have No Easy Answers At Statehouse". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Birkeland, Bente (May 14, 2021). "Bill That Would Restrict Teen Marijuana Use Is Now At The Capitol". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Paul, Jesse (February 10, 2021). "Colorado's marijuana industry flexed its big muscles and now an effort to limit pot potency is unraveling". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Burness, Alex (February 4, 2021). "A Colorado Democrat wants to cap THC levels in marijuana products at 15%". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Birkeland, Bente. "Colorado CD 8: Yadira Caraveo — what to know". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Colorado General Assembly: Yadira Caraveo". Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Paul, Jesse (August 24, 2021). "The first established politician has jumped into the race for Colorado's new 8th Congressional District". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Luning, Ernest (August 31, 2021). "Dem congressional candidate Yadira Caraveo picks up endorsements from lawmakers". The Gazette. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ Fish, Sandra. "Yadira Caraveo secures Democratic nomination in Colorado's highly competitive 8th Congressional District". Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ Luning, Ernest (August 31, 2021). "Dem congressional candidate Yadira Caraveo picks up endorsements from lawmakers". Colorado Politics. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ Paul, Jesse (November 9, 2022). "Democrat Yadira Caraveo wins close race in Colorado's new 8th Congressional District". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "Endorsed Candidates". NewDem Action Fund. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
External links
- Yadira Caraveo for Congress campaign website
- Representative Yadira Caraveo official legislative website
- 1980 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
- Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Colorado
- Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
- Living people
- People from Thornton, Colorado
- Regis University alumni
- University of Colorado School of Medicine alumni
- Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado
- Women state legislators in Colorado
- 21st-century American women physicians
- 21st-century American physicians
- Hispanic and Latino American women physicians
- American pediatricians
- Women pediatricians