Yadira Caraveo
Yadira D. Caraveo (born December 23, 1980) is an American politician and pediatrician serving as a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 31st district. Elected in 2018, she assumed office on January 4, 2019. The district is located entirely in Adams County. She is the Democratic nominee for Colorado's 8th congressional district in the 2022 election. Early life and education. Caraveo was born in Colorado to Mexican immigrant parents who arrived undocumented in the 1970s. She volunteered for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign while in medical school. She received her bachelor's  degree from Regis University and later her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Colorado House of Representatives. Along with being a state legislator for part of the year, Caraveo is 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 percent of the vote over 39 percent of Republican candidate Rico Figueroa. 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. 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. The bill was controversial, Caraveo argued it would stop younger people from getting addicted to cannabis and 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. Committees. During the 73rd general  assembly, Caraveo serves on the following committees: 2022 U.S. House election. On August 24, 2021, Caraveo announced her candidacy for Colorado's 8th congressional district. Caraveo 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. If elected, Caraveo would be the first Latina member of the U.S. Congress from Colorado.