Yadira Caraveo ends bid to regain Colorado congressional seat
Former Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Colorado has halted her attempt to retake her former congressional seat that she lost to Republican Rep. Gabe Evans on Nov. 5.
Former U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Colo., on Friday ended her bid to regain the seat that she narrowly lost on Nov. 5. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI UPI
Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Former Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Colorado has halted her attempt to retake her former congressional seat that she lost to Republican Rep. Gabe Evans on Nov. 5.
Caraveo is a pediatrician who represented Colorado's 8th Congressional District for one term but lost to Evans, who received 163,320 votes to Caraveo's 160,871, according to Ballotpedia.
Despite the close election result, Caraveo on Friday said she was ending her candidacy for the seat that has several other challengers for the Democratic Party's nomination, The Denver Post reported.
"This was not a decision I made lightly," Caraveo said in a prepared statement.
"Unfortunately, I faced very strong resistance to my candidacy this cycle due almost entirely to the stigmatization of mental health in America," she continued.
"I hope that one day we will see more acceptance and understanding of illnesses, like depression, and that leaders at all levels will be able to support those in need in actions and not just words."
Caraveo last year said she had sought treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., according to The Hill.
Democratic Party leaders were concerned about her mental health, but they also were wary of allegations that she mistreated her campaign and congressional staff, The Colorado Sun reported.
The news outlet in May reported her staff and aides had created a safety plan that included removing sharp objects from her offices amid claims of Caraveo having suicidal thoughts.
Caraveo was the first Hispanic woman to be elected to represent Colorado in Congress and struggled to raise funds for her election bid and had not announced any "major endorsements," according the The Colorado Sun.
Colorado's 8th Congressional District is a swing district that encompasses the northern suburbs of Denver and into Greeley.
The seat is among the most-targeted U.S. House districts by the Republican and Democratic parties.
