Weld County Goes Red Amid Political Shift Seen Throughout Nation

Following the election, there have been differing views on the effect of the decisions made by voters across the state and the country as a whole. Even leading into election day, voters and the parties alike seemed divided.

The race for the 8th Congressional District previously covered by The Mirror was as hotly contested as expected. Results on election night looked as though incumbent Yadira Caraveo was going to retain her position but on Nov. 10 with Republican Gabe Evans now leading Caraveo, the Democratic candidate conceded the race.

Weld County vote counts helped Evans take control of the race. When the county reported results Friday, Nov. 8, he took the lead. Ultimately, he won by a very thin margin, having just around 2,500 more votes than Caraveo at the time of concession.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with the job of representing you and your families, and I am ready to fight back for a better direction for all Coloradans,” Evans said in the press conference following his victory. “I have spent my entire life running toward a challenge, and now I am ready to take on my next challenge, representing our communities in Washington, D.C.”

Evans’ victory also helped to propel the Republican Party to winning the majority in the House.

UNC faces a circumstance that is much different from that of the other two major universities in the state. While The Mirror covered what was perceived to be support for Vice President Kamala Harris, Weld County as a whole ran red. While Harris received almost 1.7 million votes from across the state, President-elect Donald Trump won in Weld County, with about 60% of votes going his way. Evans also won in Weld County, while other counties and congressional districts in the state with large university populations went to the left.

In comparison to the Second Congressional District, Colorado Election Results reported a 40% victory for Democrat Joe Neguse. While the Second District contains both CU and CSU, each of the counties the schools are in also voted blue in the Presidential Election. Boulder County, where CU is, reported an overwhelming victory with Harris receiving 76% of votes. Harris also won in Larimer County, receiving around 60% of votes.

While UNC’s smaller student population could explain why student opinion did not match the eventual results, one professor explained that the nation shifted to the right, even if the state did not.

“I think that education played a big role in Colorado because Colorado didn’t move as much to the right as other states,” said Cedar Welker, a political science professor at UNC.

According to Welker, educated people tend to lean Democrat and Colorado has one of the highest rates of residents who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Welker explained that while the rest of the country’s Latinx voters supported Trump more than in previous elections, Colorado’s Latinx voters did not mirror this trend. Interestingly, Evans’ race with Caraveo was notable not just for the seat itself but also because both candidates were Latinx.

Welker does not believe that the democratic majority of voters in Colorado is going to shift anytime soon but did provide the caveat that elections are hard to predict.

As for Evans winning the house seat and Republicans taking control, Welker explained some upcoming possibilities.

“In terms of just being able to head committees in Congress and set the agenda for Congress it’s really important in that way,” they said. “I think it’s mainly important for Trump’s overall agenda, just having both houses of Congress.”

Welker noted that the Speaker of the House is third in line for the presidency as well.

It is unclear how the Republican Party will back up Trump and his more controversial policies, but time will tell.