These Republican candidates want to flip Colorado's 8th District

Two Republican candidates are seeking the party's nomination in the highly-competitive 8th Congressional District, which includes rural areas and major cities like Greeley, Fort Lupton and Thornton.

Zoom in: State. Rep. Gabe Evans, a U.S. Army veteran and former police officer is running against Janak Joshi, a former state lawmaker and retired doctor.

Between lines: Evans this month earned former President Trump's endorsement; both candidates support Trump.

• But Joshi during a recent debate suggested he has absolute support for Trump , contrasting Evans not directly saying whether he supported the former president's plan to deport undocumented immigrants if he wins this fall.

What they're saying: Evans on his campaign website says drug use and crime in Colorado needs to be addressed by politicians like himself, citing his past experience as an Arvada police officer.

• He blames Democratic policies for an uptick in crime, while reducing inflation and securing the border are his other major goals.

Joshi says he wants to represent people by fighting corruption in both major parties. He says on his website that cracking down on illegal immigration, creating a limited government and defending the Second Amendment are among his priorities.

The other side: U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat, is seeking a second term for the seat she narrowly won in 2022. She's running unopposed in the primary.

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