As Election Day approaches, all eyes are on Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. This race is one of the few that will decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Watch Colorado’s 8th Congressional District debate 29:59
The candidates went head-to-head Friday in a debate hosted by CBS News Colorado. Political reporter Sean Boyd moderated the debate, which covered everything from power supply to food safety and health care.
However, immigration issues dominated the discussion. Republican challenger Gabe Evans knocked down Democratic incumbent Yadira Carabeo’s vote on border security.
“[She]opposes building more border walls, votes to reduce penalties for drug traffickers in our communities to virtually unenforceable levels, and votes to defund police laws.” and voted in favor of sanctuary city and state legislation,” he said.
Caraveo acknowledged that his views on immigration may not necessarily align with voters.
Three years ago, she called for defunding Immigration, Customs and Border Protection. She has now changed her mind.
Boyd asked her, “Are you really the best person to represent your constituents when your beliefs are so different from theirs?”
Mr Caraveo replied: “Yes, because I have tough conversations with my constituents every day and I take their advice and opinions into account.”
If border security is Caraveo’s Achilles’ heel, abortion is Evans’s. Two years ago, he filled out a survey that made one exception: his mother’s life.
“Now he’s running for Congress and he knows that public opinion is against him, so he’s trying to reverse his opinion,” Caraveo said.
Mr Evans insisted his position had not changed.
“So I’m making my position clear: I don’t support a national abortion ban. I support exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” Evans said.
Ms Boyd asked: “Would you support any other exceptions? Early pregnancy, before it becomes viable?”
Evans responded, “I think the Supreme Court was very clear when it ruled on this. They sent this issue back to the states. So it will be up to the states to decide.” Ta.
He declined to state his position on other exceptions.
CBS Who was more effective in Colorado’s CD8 debate? Left Right Center Watch 17:24
Candidates also considered the cost of living.
Carabeo has proposed a bill in Colorado that would cap the prices of certain drugs, but he doesn’t agree with broader price controls being pushed by Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I think it’s quite different in pharmaceuticals, but we don’t do that across the board in other fields,” she said.
Evans also touted former President Donald Trump’s plan to impose 10% to 20% tariffs on all imported goods.
“With countries like China, we use every tool at our disposal to ensure that they follow international rules and that our businesses and businesses, our employers here in the United States, act. “It has to be a level playing field to compete,” he said. “For the rest of the international economy, the people who are trying to play by the rules? I’m basically a free trade guy.”
As a result of the discussion, this became clear. In a race that the latest polls show is a close one, the candidates have little agreement on anything, leaving voters with two different choices.
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