Yadira Caraveo and Gabe Evans discuss immigration in the first congressional debate

Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and her Republican challenger, state Rep. Gabe Evans, discussed immigration, abortion and Donald Trump Tuesday night during the first debate for one of the nation’s most contentious congressional races.

The debate, hosted by 9Newswas the first of two scheduled ahead of their November race to represent the northern suburbs of the 8th Congressional District. Many of the questions focused on immigration, a topic that both Evans and Caraveo have embraced, although the 30-minute debate included quick topic changes covering abortion, housing, corporal punishment for children and a series of anti-immigrant statements. made by Trump, the Aurora-leaning Republican presidential candidate who moderator Kyle Clark linked to the fascist rhetoric of the 1930s and 1940s.

During much of the debate, moderators urged the candidates — and Evans in particular — to answer questions directly. Asked whether he would condemn Trump’s anti-immigrant statements or describe them as racist, Evans, a freshman state lawmaker from Fort Lupton backed by Trump, said he focused on the policy and twice obliquely repeated that he was “racist statements had always condemned. ”

Evans did indicate that he did not support Trump’s desire to deport every undocumented immigrant in the country, though he broadly supported intensified border security efforts and criticized Caraveo and Democratic lawmakers’ handling of immigration issues.

“We must aggressively target the individuals who are in our communities illegally and committing crimes, and those are the people we must deport,” he said.

Evans also declined to answer directly when asked whether it was appropriate to use corporal punishment on children in schools a bill he voted against last year. He said first that “we need to make sure we provide a safe place for learning in our public schools.” When pressed to answer directly, he started talking about his former work as a “part-time school employee.” Clark then stopped him and continued walking.

Caraveo, who this summer joined a small group of Democrats in supporting a Republican resolution condemning Vice President Kamala Harris’ handling of the border, said her disavowal of some of her previous immigration positions — such as defunding the enforcement of immigration law – reflected a shift in the country.

“I think the country has changed, and we have seen a crisis that both parties have created and for which no solutions have been offered,” Caraveo said, in a nod to the bipartisan bona fides she has worked to reinforce in a district she won with fewer votes. than 1,700 votes two years ago.

Caraveo said she would vote to represent her constituents, which apparently meant a more enforcement-intensive approach. She would not say whether she still supports giving government contracts to companies that employ undocumented workers. She says only that her voters want a “balanced” approach.