Colorado Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton) is challenging U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in one of the most-watched elections this year. Colorado’s Congressional District 8 could decide control of Congress, and competing PACs have poured more than $15 million into the race. Like many Republicans running since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Evans has been trying to walk a fine line on abortion, an issue that has proven to be overwhelmingly electorally popular.
In January, Evans said he would not support a national abortion ban. “We have to have the wisdom to come up with policies that best preserve life,” said Evans during a candidate forum where he emphasized that he is 100% pro-life. “And I think that the Supreme Court rightly decided this case that it is now up to the legislatures and to the voters of Colorado to figure out how they are going to best protect life.”
Despite his support for the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, Evans has failed to state exactly what kind of limits he would like to see states, or the federal government, enact when it comes to abortion. During a 2022 interview with former KNUS host Steffan Tubbs, Evans made it clear he supports some kind of restriction.
“Unfortunately one of the policies that was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor is the most pro-abortion law in the entire nation, HB22-1279 [Reproductive Health Equity Act, RHEA] and it basically establishes abortion in the state of Colorado as a fundamental right and I find that ridiculous, not only because I am about as pro-life as they come, but because polling shows that over 70% of Americans, to include Democrats and folks that identify as pro-choice, think that there should be restrictions on abortion,” he said. “Our out-of-touch leftist legislature here in CO, they just keep pushing further left and passing these radical policies that are just out of touch with the population.”
A review of Evans’ endorsements and supporters could provide insight on his true position on abortion.
Endorsements:
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), who described abortion as an “American holocaust” and supported a 2021 attempt at a federal six-week abortion ban.
U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), said he would support a nationwide bill banning abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus.
U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), who also supported a 2021 attempt at a federal six-week abortion ban.
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who has repeatedly supported efforts to ban and restrict abortion, including Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) 2022 15-week abortion ban.
Colorado Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer supported the Personhood ballot initiatives that would have defined person as beginning at conception and as a county commissioner she voted to ban the Plan B abortion pill from Weld County public health clinics.
Colorado Rep. Anthony Hartsook (R-Parker), who co-sponsored Rep. Scott Bottoms’ (R-Colorado Springs) 2024 “Personhood of Living Unborn Human Child” bill, which would have defined “person” to include a living unborn human child at any stage of development, starting from fertilization at the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum. The bill would have also allowed the prosecution abortion patients and providers for murder.
Colorado Citizens for Life, the now-defunct National Right to Life affiliate group. The National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest national anti-abortion organization in the United States.
Evans listed his status as a member of Heritage Defense, a group that defends Christian homeschoolers, on a voter guide he filled out during his primary race earlier this year. Heritage Defense was founded by Texas attorney Bradley Pierce, who also leads the Foundation to Abolish Abortion. Pierce is the author of the abortion abolition bills that have appeared in state legislatures across the country. Pierce, like others in the abortion abolition movement, believe that abortion should be banned with no exceptions for rape or incest, and that abortion patients and medical providers should be charged with murder for their part in abortion.
