Sept. 6, 2024, 11:40 a.m.
In one Colorado district, messaging on the energy and environment could end up deciding whether Republicans keep the House.
A geographically diverse district that stretches from the north Denver suburbs into rural land in the shadows of towering oil and gas wells, CO-08 is one of the most competitive races in the country. The district was featured in Hotline’s latest ranking of seats most likely to flip largely in part to Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D) winning the lowest vote share of any candidate in 2022.
Oil and gas production is responsible for thousands of jobs in the central Colorado district. It’s also responsible for the increased levels of pollution and environmental hazards in the area.
“Unfortunately, this is also an area, which is like my district, is very polluted [and] has a lot of environmental justice issues,” state Rep. Manny Rutinel (D) told Hotline at the Democratic National Convention in August. Rutinel’s state House district overlaps Caraveo’s and represents Commerce City, the home of the Suncor Energy oil refinery—which has more than $10 million worth of EPA air pollution violations against it.
Caraveo and state Rep. Gabe Evans (R) have taken different approaches to addressing the issue.
Caraveo is supporting more clean energy solutions, touting her work in the Inflation Reduction Act that brought a more than $9 million investment into northern Colorado’s energy infrastructure. Taking a more hybrid approach to the matter, she also supports research into maintaining oil and natural gas pipelines.
Evans has taken a more economics-focused approach to the issue, as is typical for many Republicans. He has promoted an “all of the above” energy policy that includes everything from oil to nuclear to renewables—all while keeping production and jobs in the United States.
Environmental issues are difficult to communicate to voters because they tend to not be as directly impactful to everyday life issues like the economy or health care. Those in this district, however, can directly tie energy and environmental policy to their pocketbooks.
Weld County Commissioner Scott James (R), who dropped out of the race earlier this year, told Hotline late last year that energy policy impacts more than just those in production since the district is home to Weld County, one of the top agricultural-producing counties in the region.
“When you take a look [at] energy in the 8th Congressional District, it goes hand in hand with agriculture. If you lose the ability to produce a unit, to harvest our natural resources that we have, you lose the ability to farm,” James said.
— Hannah Thacker
hthacker@nationaljournal.com
