Colorado Treasurer Dave Young is set today to join the increasingly crowded Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District.

Young, a Greeley Democrat, is a former member of the legislature and its powerful Joint Budget Committee. He points to his deep roots in the district and five successful races — three specifically in the 8th District and two statewide — as evidence he’ll be able to flip the highly competitive seat blue once again in next year’s election.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican, won the seat in 2024 after defeating freshman Democrat Yadira Caraveo.

She was the first to represent the new seat, which was created after the 2020 census and stretches from Thornton to Greeley. Fewer than 2,500 votes have decided the victor in both elections for the seat.

The 2026 race is likely to be just as close. Three other Democrats have declared for it so far: Caraveo and state Reps. Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel.

The primary election will be next summer.

Young, who has served as state treasurer since 2019 and is term-limited in 2026, said in an interview before his announcement that he was motivated to seek office once more by Evans’ recent yes vote on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the sweeping Republican spending and tax cut package supported by President Donald Trump.

In particular, Young is worried about proposed cuts to Medicaid in the bill. Evans has argued that the bill has been the subject of “blatant fearmongering.”

Cuts then spurred him to seek office in 2011, when he was appointed to the state House of Representatives, and they’re spurring him now, Young said.