Dem
47
GOP
53
Dr. Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat and the first Latina to represent Colorado in Congress, won her CO-08 seat in 2022. Then she lost it in 2024. She was already campaigning to get it back in 2026. Then suddenly she dropped out, complicating the Democrats' plans to take back the House, especially with all the gerrymandering going on.
Her problem is mental health issues—hers. She apparently twice tried to commit suicide and staffers saw her. She said that there is such a stigma associated with mental health that she couldn't take the flak she was getting anymore.
The district has a PVI of EVEN, so it is not lost to the blue team, but a former representative is generally a stronger candidate than a random state senator. Now the Democratic primary will become a real barnburner with no front-runner. There are likely to be half a dozen candidates or more before long.
In other House election news, Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), who has years of experience in national security on account of House committee assignments, has decided not to run for reelection next year. Instead, he will look for a private-sector job that will pay better than the measly $174,000 he is making now. His district, TX-10 in the middle of Texas, is R+12, so whoever wins the Republican primary gets to go to D.C. For the sake of the people in TX-10, we hope there is a Republican who is willing to make the sacrifice and accept a job that pays so poorly. (V)