There are generally two kinds of people in elected office — politicians and statesmen.

Colorado is fortunate to have a statesman in U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans representing the 8th Congressional District, and The Gazette editorial board endorses his reelection. We urge a vote for Evans in the upcoming June 30 Republican primary as well as the general election next fall.  

It’s a race that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. House, so a lot rests on the fate of the hotly contested CD-8. The diverse district stretches north from metro Denver along I-25, covering parts of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties ranging from Greeley in the heart of Weld County to north-suburban Northglenn and Thornton.

Evans — a Colorado native and grandson of Mexican immigrants — is an ideal match for CD-8. 

He is a veteran of local law enforcement who also served 12 years in the U.S. Army and Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander. His Army duty included a combat deployment to the Middle East.

His military service also engaged him in wildfire response and search-and-rescue operations across Colorado, where he gained firsthand experience with both challenges.

He’s now putting all that experience to work for Colorado in Congress.

For example, in April, a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House passed Evans’ Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act to loosen the federal grip on Colorado’s air standards. The EPA unfairly classifies the Front Range as a “severe” violator of federal air regulations despite other regions generating the pollution. As a result, Colorado businesses are forced to obtain new permits and meet stricter emissions requirements — even though they’re not at fault.

The FIRE Act amends the Clean Air Act so air quality data from smoke generated by wildfires and controlled burns can be excluded from determining whether a state or region complies with national air quality standards.

Evans’ policymaking is also informed by more than a decade serving as an Arvada police officer. The experience taught him how badly the soft-on-crime policies of Colorado’s ruling Democrats — including lax murder and auto theft laws — have damaged the state.

He has backed policies to make streets safer again, including bills to combat fentanyl poisonings and sanctuary cities and states, like Colorado, that shield criminal illegal immigrants from lawful federal enforcement.

Evans is a rule-of-law Republican who deeply understands the broad spectrum of voters, taking stands that resonate with much of his district. He’s a fiscal hawk navigating a Washington culture addicted to spending, and his stands on the issues draw public support across party lines.

More than half of Colorado’s voters are now registered unaffiliated. Evans advocates for common-sense policies shared by a broad swath of the electorate, including Colorado’s unaffiliated voters. His plan of action appeals to CD-8’s wide range of views.

Speaking of unaffiliated voters, state law requires that they receive a primary ballot in the mail for each of the two political parties. They may vote and return one of those ballots, and we urge CD-8’s unaffiliated as well as its Republicans to opt for the GOP primary ballot and vote for Evans. 

When we endorsed Evans in 2024, we knew he would bring practical leadership and exceptional service to every constituent of Colorado’s arguably most diverse district.

Over the past two years, he’s done exactly that — holding fast to the district-first mindset and mainstream values he embraces.

Gabe Evans has won the confidence of his constituents — and earned a second term in Congress.