Yadira Caraveo
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromColorado's8th district
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Gabe Evans
Member of theColorado 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	(1980-12-23)December 23, 1980 (age 44) Denver,Colorado, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Regis University (BS) University of Colorado, Denver (MD)
Website	House website

Yadira D. Caraveo (/jəˈdɪərəkɛərəˈveɪoʊ/yə-DEER-ə kair-ə-VAY-oh; born December 23, 1980) is an American politician andpediatrician who served as theU.S. representative forColorado's 8th congressional district from 2023 to 2025.^[1][2] ADemocrat, she isColorado's firstLatina member of Congress.^[3][4]

Caraveo represented the 31st district in theColorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. The district covered parts ofAdams andWeld counties.

Caraveo lost re-election in2024 to RepublicanGabe Evans.^[5][6]

Caraveo was born inDenver toMexicanundocumented parents who arrived in the 1970s but were granted amnesty under theImmigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. She volunteered forBarack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign while inmedical school.^[7] She received her bachelor's degree fromRegis University and later her Doctor of Medicine degree from theUniversity of Colorado School of Medicine.^[8] Caraveo completed a residency in pediatrics at theUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center,^[9] where she was also involved with theCommittee of Interns and Residents union for resident physicians.^[10]

During her tenure as a state legislator, Caraveo was also a pediatrician practicing inThornton, Colorado.^[8] She has also served on the board of trustees for theAnythink Library system inAdams County since 2017.^[11]

Caraveo was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 55% of the vote toRepublican nominee Rico Figueroa's 39%.^[12]

Caraveo sponsored a bill giving free contraceptives and reproductive care toillegal immigrants, citing studies showing that the program lowersmaternal mortality andinfant mortality rates.^[13] She sponsored a bill that would put an age requirement on somecannabis products, require coroners to conduct aTHC test for all "unnatural deaths", and put a cap on potency levels in products.^[14] Caraveo argued the bill would stop younger people from getting addicted to cannabis, while opponents argued testing would be racially motivated.^[15][16] The bill was co-sponsored byRepublican members of the legislature and disavowed by Democratic House SpeakerAlec Garnett.^[17] She was the lead sponsor of a sex education law that prohibited abstinence-only curriculum and required schools to teach students about consent.^[18]

During the 73rd general assembly, Caraveo served on the following committees:^[19]

• Health & Insurance (Vice Chair)
• Education

On August 24, 2021, Caraveo announced her candidacy forColorado's 8th congressional district.^[20] She was endorsed by former Colorado Speaker of the HouseKC Becker, State SenatorFaith Winter, State SenatorJessie Danielson, and others.^[21] On April 5, 2022, Caraveo secured the Democratic nomination.^[22] On November 9, 2022, Caraveo defeated Republican nomineeBarbara Kirkmeyer in the general election, becoming Colorado's first Latina member of Congress.^[23][24]

Caraveo ran for re-election in 2024 against RepublicanGabe Evans. She was defeated by Evans in the general election.^[25]

For the118th Congress:^[26]

• 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

• Rare Disease Caucus^[27]

Caraveo isRoman Catholic.^[28][29] In August 2024, Caraveo announced that she had begun treatment fordepression atWalter Reed National Military Medical Center.^[30]

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress

• Representative Yadira Caraveo official U.S. House website
• Yadira Caraveo for Congress campaign website
• Appearances onC-SPAN

• Biography at theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at theFederal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at theLibrary of Congress
• Profile atVote Smart

• 1980 births
• 21st-century American physicians
• 21st-century American women physicians
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly
• 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
• 21st-century Roman Catholics
• American pediatricians
• American politicians of Mexican descent
• American women pediatricians
• Catholics from Colorado
• Colorado Democrats
• Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado
• 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
• Hispanic and Latino American women physicians
• Living people
• Physicians from Denver
• People from Thornton, Colorado
• Regis University alumni
• University of Colorado School of Medicine alumni
• Women state legislators in Colorado

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from November 2018
• People appearing on C-SPAN