Report: Staff Warned Of Emotional Crisis In Congressional Office — No Action Taken

A one-term Democrat’s troubles may haunt 2026…

Yadira Caraveo’s brief tenure as U.S. representative for Colorado’s 8th District ended not merely in electoral defeat — but allegedly amidst emotional turmoil that has sparked serious questions about Democratic candidate vetting and party priorities. In 2024, Caraveo lost her seat by the narrowest of margins to Republican Gabe Evans, but the real story runs deeper than a red-versus-blue contest in one of the nation’s most evenly divided congressional districts.

According to former aides who spoke with The Colorado Sun, Caraveo’s time in office was marked by serious mental health struggles, including two apparent self-harm attempts reportedly witnessed by staff. Internal efforts to implement a written safety protocol — including removing sharp objects and easing staff burdens related to her emotional well-being — were ultimately shut down:

The plan, a copy of which was obtained by The Colorado Sun, was dismissed and staffers say they were told they had a choice: either commit to contending with Caraveo’s mental health challenges or resign within a day. 

This story is based on nearly a year of reporting and conversations with more than 20 people, including interviews with four former Caraveo aides, as well as documents and audio recordings from first responders obtained by The Sun, both through public records requests and from a law enforcement source.

The Colorado Sun added that staff “also wanted assurances that subordinates not be responsible for talking her ‘through suicidal thoughts’ or ‘keeping her company during a crisis.’” The dismissal of their concerns led to high staff turnover — with the Thornton Democrat posting the highest rate among Colorado’s congressional delegation. And, as alleged in the reporting and supported by evidence, it nearly resulted in a tragic outcome:

Caraveo twice appeared to attempt suicide in situations witnessed by staffers. The first time was in February 2024, when she sent concerning messages to aides who rushed to her Thornton home and found that she had taken 19 sleeping pills and was drinking alcohol, leading to an emergency response and hospitalization.

Then, in April 2024, Caraveo showed up to an event at her congressional office in Northglenn after ingesting a large quantity of a powerful sedative and had to be rushed to a hospital. Aides called 911 and led police and firefighters to the congresswoman.

Caraveo has publicly acknowledged her mental health struggles, including receiving treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. However, allegations of emotional abuse and self-harm were not disclosed until last week. Last month, the one-term representative announced a 2026 bid to reclaim her seat — though the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is not currently backing her, signaling internal concerns, even though her 2024 loss to Republican Gabe Evans was by less than 1%.

An analysis of the 2024 congressional elections estimates that Democrats lost only two seats due to candidate quality — Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania and Rep. Caraveo in Colorado’s 8th District — while Republicans lost 12, according to Split Ticket’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) metric, which quantifies candidate impact on election outcomes.

Casey’s loss to Republican Dave McCormick — 48.6% to 48.9%, confirmed by a recount — marked the closest Senate race in Pennsylvania since the passage of the 17th Amendment. Despite outperforming Kamala Harris in the state, Casey’s underwhelming campaign was no match for McCormick’s disciplined effort, turning what was expected to be a Democratic hold into a major upset.

Caraveo’s defeat to Gabe Evans underscores the risks Democrats may face if she secures the party’s nomination. Her negative WAR rating, combined with the absence of legislative incumbency, could further erode her standing in one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country.

What’s Next for Colorado-08?

Caraveo’s intentions to run again raise an important question: Is she the best the Democrats can offer in a swing district? Her record, combined with a lack of party support and an already-established GOP incumbent, suggests 2026 could go from a toss-up to a lean Republican hold — unless Democrats rethink their strategy.

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