Gabe Evans on Abortion

Gabe Evans is an anti-abortion extremist who is out-of-touch with Coloradans:

• Evans described himself as 100 percent pro-life and in 2022 he received a 100 percent rating from Colorado for Life. 
• In 2022, Evans responded to two far-right voter guides expressing anti-abortion views. In the Freedom Voter Guide, which is distributed by the designated hate group Alliance Defending Freedom, Evans said he opposed abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. In a different voter guide, when asked under what circumstances abortion should be allowed, Evans responded, “Life begins at conception. If the circumstances wouldn't warrant killing a born person, the unborn also should not be killed."\
• Evans supported the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. When asked if he would support a national abortion ban, he has twice said he saw no reason to “reverse course on the success that the pro-life movement is having.”
• Evans opposed Colorado’s law which enshrined the right to have an abortion or continue a pregnancy, as well as the right to use or refuse contraceptives. Evans also voted against a bill that sought to protect people who traveled to Colorado from other states in order to obtain an abortion. 
• Asked how he voted on a 2020 ballot initiative that sought to ban abortion in Colorado after 22-weeks, Evans claimed he couldn’t remember. He claimed this despite remembering the exact name of the campaign that pushed the ballot initiative, “Due Date Too Late,” and that he and his wife had deep discussions about the issue because they were split on it. Coloradans rejected the initiative with 59 percent voting against it. 
• Evans voted against a resolution that would support family planning services and access to contraception.
• Evans dismissed concerns about reproductive freedom as a “fixation” by Democrats. Even though his Democratic opponent worked as a pediatrician before being elected to Congress, Evans also claimed Democrats did not actually care about reproductive care or “pregnancy-affirming care” and “just want to sell abortions for any reason whatsoever.” 

Evans Praised The Dobbs Decision And Opposed Abortion With Almost No Exceptions

evans said he was 100 percent pro-life

Evans Said He Was 100 Percent Pro-Life. According to the Colorado Times Recorder, “‘We have to have the wisdom to come up with policies that best preserve life,’ said Evans, saying 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.’ ‘We need to stand for life. We need to stand for our most vulnerable. That’s the babies. But that’s also the women in these terrible life situations that I worked with for 10 years as a police officer. So I think this is up to the state legislatures, and I will always stand for life,’ said Evans, who’s made similar comments previously on the campaign trail.” [Colorado Times Recorder, 1/26/24]

• Evans: “We Have To Have The Wisdom To Come Up With Policies That Best Preserve Life.”  According to the Colorado Times Recorder, "‘We have to have the wisdom to come up with policies that best preserve life,’ said Evans, saying 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.’” [Colorado Times Recorder, 1/26/24]
• Evans Said He Would “Always Stand For Life” And Abortion Policy Should Be Left To State Legislatures. According to the Colorado Times Recorder, “‘We need to stand for life. We need to stand for our most vulnerable. That’s the babies. But that’s also the women in these terrible life situations that I worked with for 10 years as a police officer. So I think this is up to the state legislatures, and I will always stand for life,’ said Evans, who’s made similar comments previously on the campaign trail.” [Colorado Times Recorder, 1/26/24]

2022: In the far-right Freedom Voter Guide, Evans Said He Opposed Abortion, Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest

In A 2022 Freedom Voter Guide Survey, Evans Indicated That He Opposed Abortion Including In Cases Of Rape Or Incest. According to the Colorado Times Recorder, “Evans’s support for the overturn of Roe v. Wade comports with an anti-choice stance he took in a Freedom Voter Guide survey. There, he indicated he opposed abortion, even for women who were raped by a family member and supported abortion only to save the life of the mother.” [Colorado Times Recorder, 9/20/23]

• 2022: In A Freedom Voter Guide, Evans Said He Supported “Prohibiting Abortion Except When Necessary To Save The Mother’s Life.” 

[Freedom Voter Guide, Gabe Evans, 2022 via archive.org]

• The Freedom Voter Guide Was Put Out By The Alliance Defending Freedom. According to the Freedom Voter Guide, the questionnaire was created by the Alliance Defending Freedom. [Freedom Voter Guide, Viewed 7/30/24] 
• The Southern Poverty Law Center Designated The Alliance Defending Freedom As Hate Group For Its Anti-LGBTQ+ Work. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, "Founded by some 30 leaders of the Christian Right, the Alliance Defending Freedom is a legal advocacy and training group that has supported the recriminalization of sexual acts between consenting LGBTQ adults in the U.S. and criminalization abroad; has defended state-sanctioned sterilization of trans people abroad; has contended that LGBTQ people are more likely to engage in pedophilia; and claims that a ‘homosexual agenda’ will destroy Christianity and society. ADF also works to develop ‘religious liberty’ legislation and case law that will allow the denial of goods and services to LGBTQ people on the basis of religion. Since the election of President Trump, ADF has become one of the most influential groups informing the administration’s attack on LGBTQ rights." [Southern Poverty Law Center, Viewed 7/30/24]
• 2002-2010: Speaker Mike Johnson Worked For The Alliance Defending Freedom. According to Rolling Stone, "Johnson comes with quite a resume. He defended Donald Trump at both of his impeachment hearings, helped plot the Jan. 6 attempted coup, and holds hardline positions on everything from abortion to LGBTQ rights. He worked for the ADF from 2002 until 2010, penning op-eds against marriage equality and endorsing briefs filed by the ADF meant to criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults. He now controls the business of the House of Representatives, including which members chair congressional committees and which bills receive floor votes. He’s also second in line for the presidency." [Rolling Stone, 10/29/23]

2022: In A Different Far-Right Voter Guide, Evans Said He Believed Life Began At Conception

2022: Asked Under What Circumstances Abortion Should Be Allowed, Evans Responded, “Life Begins At Conception. If The Circumstances Wouldn't Warrant Killing A Born Person, The Unborn Also Should Not Be Killed." According to the 2022 iVoterGuide, "RIGHT TO LIFE Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed? Life begins at conception. If the circumstances wouldn't warrant killing a born person, the unborn also should not be killed." [iVoterGuide, Viewed 7/30/24]

• AFA Action Said They Were “Dedicated To Advancing Biblical, Family Values In Society And Government By Educating And Influencing Public Policy.” According to AFA Action’s website, "AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. AFA Action is also the Governmental Affairs Affiliate of American Family Association." [AFA Action, Viewed 7/10/24] 

Evans Touted His Support For Overturning Roe V Wade And said abortion decisions should be handled by the states

January 2024: Evans Said The Supreme Court Was Right In Sending Abortion Policy Back To The States. According to Colorado Times Recorder, “Colorado Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Ft. Lupton) opposes a federal abortion ban. ‘We have to have the wisdom to come up with policies that best preserve life,’ said Evans during a January candidate forum. ‘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. We need to stand for life. We need to stand for our most vulnerable. That’s the babies.” [Colorado Times Recorder, 2/7/24]

Asked If He Supported A National Abortion Ban, Evans Said He Saw No Reason To “Reverse Course” On The Anti-Abortion Movement’s “Success” In The Supreme Court Overturning Roe V. Wade

9/11/23: Evans Supported Overturning Roe V Wade And Said He Sees No Reason To “Reverse Course On The Success That The Pro-Life Movement Is Having.” According to Colorado Times Recorder, “Evens didn’t commit to backing a national abortion ban, saying instead, ‘You know, so the pro-life movement has been working for the last 50 years to try to have this issue, you know, overturned and returned to the states. We’ve seen a lot of success there. And I don’t really see any reason to reverse course on the success that the pro-life movement is having.’” [Colorado Times Recorder, 9/20/23]

7/11/24: Asked Where He Stood On A National Abortion Ban, Evans Pointed Out The Supreme Court Overturning Roe V. Wade And Said He Didn’t See “Any Reason To Reverse Half A Century Worth Of Work By The Pro-Life Movement.” According to an interview Gabe Evans gave to Sherrie Peif, "PEIF: Which kind of leads to, you know, one of the big questions that I know you're asked that pretty much every forum and it's a big topic of conversation is if there were to be a bill that came before you that would ban abortion in all 50 states and make it a federal crime, where do you stand on a national abortion ban? EVANS: Yeah, So I think that again, I'm pro-life. The pro-life movement has been working for a half a century to get Roe overturned, and that happened a couple of years ago. And I think the Supreme Court was pretty clear when they sent that back to the states. They said this is an issue for the states to be able to address. And so I don't see any reason to reverse half a century worth of work by the pro-life movement. And so and even, you know, even President Trump does not support a national abortion ban. So I don't think that this is a national issue. I think the Supreme Court was very, very clear in sending this to the states. And so it's up to the states now to figure out how do they best preserve all life born and unborn." [YouTube, Sherrie Peif, 7/11/24] (video)

2022: colorado for life effectively endorsed evans

2022: Colorado For Life Gave Evans A 100 Percent Rating. According to Colorado for Life, "Each election cycle, we evaluate candidates based on their pro-life action in public office or in their community, answers to survey questions, and leadership they’ve shown on the pro-life issue. We only offer a 100% rating and do not provide lifetime endorsements. Rather, we watch to see where candidates really stand and how they lead. The lives of our unborn are too precious to provide ratings to candidates who campaign on the pro-life issue but do not lead on it once in office. Our rating of candidates does not mean other candidates are not pro-life, just that we believe these candidates will best lead on the issue. Colorado State House Districts: HD 10 - William DeOreo HD 15 - Scott Bottoms HD 22 - Ken DeGraaf HD 26 - Savannah Wolfson HD 30 - Russ Carter HD 41 - Stephanie Hancock HD 47 - Ty Winter HD 48 - Gabe Evans" [Colorado for Life, Candidate Ratings, 11/4/22 via archive.org] 

• Colorado For Life Was Founded To “Make Colorado Pro-Life” And Fight “Radical Pro-Abortionists.” and According to Colorado for Life, "Colorado for Life was established in mid-2020 to take the fight to radical pro-abortionists and make Colorado pro-life.  By mobilizing pro-life leaders, Colorado for Life is helping our side to not just talk pro-life but actually accomplish pro-life successes. The bad news is that radical pro-abortionists from Denver and Boulder are in firm control of our Colorado government, even though more and more leaders and citizens are wising up to their deadly agenda." [Colorado for Life, About, Viewed 7/30/24] 

Evans, Who opposed Abortion in almost all cases, also Said “Individuals Are The Best People To Make Health Decisions For Themselves And Their Families”

Evans On His Campaign Website: “Individuals Are The Best People To Make Health Decisions For Themselves And Their Families.” According to Gabe Evans’s website, “Prescription drug prices have risen to astronomical costs in America while other countries buy the same medication for a fraction of the cost. This isn’t fair to hardworking Americans. We can fix this by putting patients and doctors back in charge. Individuals are the best people to make health decisions for themselves and their families.” [Gabe Evans For Congress, accessed 5/1/24]

Evans Opposed Colorado’s Law That Protected Access To Abortion And Contraception

Evans Opposed Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act. According to a post on Gabe Evans’ Facebook page, "Colorado's Dems introduce THE most radical pro-abortion bill in the nation! No parental notification for minors! Partial birth, gender, and racial based abortion is allowed! No actual solutions for women in desperate or abusive situations. This bill must be stopped!!! #EvansHD48" [Facebook, Gabe Evans, 3/9/22]

• The Reproductive Health Equity Act Enshrined In Colorado Law The Right To Have An Abortion Or Continue A Pregnancy, As Well As The Right To Use Or Refuse Contraceptives. According to Colorado Newsline, "HB-1279 would affirmatively state that people in Colorado have the right to have an abortion or to continue a pregnancy, as well as the right to use or refuse contraceptive care. It would explicitly prohibit state and local governments from denying, restricting, interfering with, or discriminating against those reproductive rights. The legislation would also declare that a fertilized egg, embryo or fetus does not have personhood rights under state law." [Colorado Newsline, 3/23/22]

evans voted against a bill that sought to protect people who traveled to colorado to obtain an abortion

4/1/23: Evans Voted Against SB23-188. According to the Colorado General Assembly, on April 1, 2023, Gabe Evans voted “no” on SB23-188. [Colorado General Assembly, SB23-188, House Vote, 4/1/23]

• SB23-188 Sought To Protect People Who Traveled To Colorado To Obtain An Abortion From Lawsuits And Criminal Prosecution In Other States. According to Colorado Newsline, "Senate Bill 23-188 is a shield law to protect people who travel to Colorado for abortion or gender-affirming care from lawsuits and criminal prosecution initiated in other states. It also protects providers and people who assist patients from that prosecution. Some conservative states, such as Texas, not only severely restrict abortion but also have so-called ‘bounty laws’ in effect to go after people who seek care in states where it is legal." [Colorado Newsline, 4/14/23]
• HEADLINE: "Out-Of-State Patients Keep Coming To Colorado In Record Numbers As Abortion Remains A Political Fight In 2024" [Colorado Public Radio, 2/6/24]
• HEADLINE: "More Women Traveling To Colorado To Seek Abortion Care As Neighboring States Ban Or Limit Care" [9News, 12/9/23]
• HEADLINE: "Out-Of-State Patients Seeking Abortions Arrive In Colorado In Record Numbers" [Colorado Public Radio, 10/17/22]

Evans Claimed He Couldn’t Remember How He Voted On An Abortion Ban Initiative Despite Correctly Naming The Initiative’s Campaign And Remembering He And His Wife Discussed It At Length

evans claimed he couldn’t remember how he voted on a 2020 abortion ban initiative despite remembering he had a lot of conversations with his wife about it

Evans Claimed He Did Not Remember How He Voted On The Due Date Too Late Campaign’s Ballot Initiative Despite Remembering That He And His Wife Were Split On The Issue And Had A Lot Of Conversations About It. According to an interview Gabe Evans gave to Sherrie Peif, "EVANS: And so, like I said, I honestly don't. I remember my wife and I were split on that issue, and I honestly don't remember how I voted on that because we were having a lot of conversations about, does, you know, can my wife then continue to get pregnancy-affirming care with all of the nuances? I mean, again, I'm not a woman. I know what, I know the difference between a man and a woman." [YouTube, Sherrie Peif, 7/11/24] (video)

Evans Correctly named the “due date too late” Campaign, which pushed an abortion ban ballot initiative in colorado in 2020

Asked If He Supported An Anti-Abortion Ballot Initiative In Colorado, Evans Correctly Named The Campaign, The “Due Date Too Late Campaign,” That Pushed The Initiative. According to an interview Gabe Evans gave to Sherrie Peif, "SHERRIE PEIF: Going to move on to some policy stuff. Since I don't know how long people can stay on, I do actually have a question from one of the viewers, E.J. And so I'm going to ask, because I think it's an appropriate question that I probably know the answer to. But he said, Gabe, I was wondering if you supported the ballot initiative a few years ago that would have ended late term abortion in Colorado? GABE EVANS: I think that was the, what was that? The due date too late 2022?  PEIF: I think that's the one yeah, that sounds right.  EVANS: I am trying to remember how I voted on that one because my wife and I had some major discussions over that, that particular one." [YouTube, Sherrie Peif, 7/11/24] (video) 

• The Due Date Too Late Campaign Sought To Pass Proposition 115. According to the Due Date Too Late Campaign’s website, "Join the 74% of compassionate Americans who know that late-term abortion is just too extreme. This November VOTE YES on Proposition 115 to End Late-Term Abortion in Colorado." [Due Date Too Late, Viewed 7/11/24] 
• 2020: Proposition 115, Which Sought To Ban Abortion In Colorado After 22 Weeks, Failed With 59.4 Percent Of Coloradans Rejecting It. According to Colorado Public Radio, "Proposition 115, which would have banned abortion after 22 weeks of gestation, has failed, according to the Associated Press. According to the ballots counted by 9:45 p.m., 59.4 percent of Colorado voters rejected the measure." [Colorado Public Radio, 11/3/20] 

Evans Voted Against Supporting Family Planning Services And Contraception In Colorado

3/1/24: Evans Voted Against A Resolution That Would Support Family Planning Services And Access To Contraception. According to ProgressNow Colorado, “ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, applauded the Colorado House today for passing a resolution in support of full Title X funding, in addition to supporting for contraception access, family planning services, and in recognition of how the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal Roe v. Wade has harmed reproductive health care. The resolution passed without the support of state Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton), who is running for Congress in Colorado’s competitive Eighth Congressional District.” [ProgressNow Colorado, 3/1/24]

• 3/1/24: Evans Voted Against A Resolution That Reaffirmed Colorado’s Commitment To Adequately Funding Title X To Provide Comprehensive Reproductive Care To Coloradans And “Decrease The Number Of Unintended Pregnancies Statewide.” According to the Colorado General Assembly, Gabe Evans voted against SJR24-008, "Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fourth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: That Colorado declares the state's commitment to adequately funding the Title X program in order to provide comprehensive reproductive care to Coloradans across the state and to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies statewide, leading to better health and economic outcomes for our children, families, communities, and state." [Colorado General Assembly, SJR24-008, House Vote, 3/1/24]

Evans Dismissed Concern About Reproductive Freedom As A Democrat “Fixation”

Evans Dismissed Democrats’ Concern About Reproductive Freedom As A “Fixation.” According to an interview Gabe Evans gave to Sherrie Peif, "But also, what I've learned through all of that is the Democrats just have this absolute fixation on abortion for any reason whatsoever, no questions asked, up to the moment of birth. In fact, they even go beyond that." [YouTube, Sherrie Peif, 7/11/24] (video)

evans claimed democrats did not care about “pregnancy-affirming care” and “just want to sell abortions for any reason whatsoever”

HEADLINE: "Anti-Abortion Candidate Says He Doesn’t Understand The ‘Nuances To That Female Reproductive Care Stuff’ Because ‘I Don’t Got The Right Parts’" [Colorado Times Recorder, 7/18/24]

Evans Claimed Democrats Did Not Actually Care About Reproductive Care Or “Pregnancy-Affirming Care” And “They Just Want To Sell Abortions For Any Reason Whatsoever.” According to an interview Gabe Evans gave to Sherrie Peif, "Like, what I learned through that is pregnancy. Democrats love their buzzwords. They love the buzzword reproductive care. Democrats don't actually care about reproductive care. They don't care one bit that my wife would actually like to get pregnancy-affirming care, that she would like there to actually be some funding for research available to go and figure out why it is that she's having all of these miscarriages, to figure out how she can actually carry a pregnancy to term. Democrats don't care about that. They use the buzzword pregnancy-affirming they're not actually interested in pregnancy-affirming care. They just want to sell abortions for any reason whatsoever." [YouTube, Sherrie Peif, 7/11/24] (video)

Evans’ Democratic Opponent, Yadira Caraveo, Was A Pediatrician Before Being Elected To Congress

Evans’ Democratic Opponent, Yadira Caraveo, Was A Pediatrician Before Being Elected To Congress. According to Yadira Caraveo’s campaign website: "For Dr. Yadira Caraveo, becoming a pediatrician, an accomplished legislator, and a fighter for middle- and working-class families in Congress started with a dream: her parents’ dream." [Caraveo for Congress, Viewed 7/12/24]

• Evans’ Democratic Opponent, Yadira Caraveo, Said She Became A Pediatric Doctor Because She Was Always Interested In Child Advocacy, Helping The Underserved, And Being A Primary Care Provider For The Latino Community. According to Yadira Caraveo’s professional biography, "After medical school, she moved to Albuquerque, NM to complete her pediatrics residency training. Dr. Yadira speaks fluent Spanish and is excited to be a primary care provider for the Latino community who is often unable to find providers who speak their language and understand their culture. She is the first physician in her family. Dr. Yadira has been interested in political and child advocacy since medical school, realizing that the best way to help the most people is through community, state, and national movements that advocate for the needs of the underserved." [Common Spirit, Yadira Caraveo, Viewed 7/12/24]