| Gabe Evans | |
| State House: | Colorado |
| District: | 48th |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2023 |
| Predecessor: | Tonya Van Beber |
| Party: | Republican |
| Children: | 2 |
| Education: | Patrick Henry College (BA) |
Timothy Gabriel "Gabe" Joseph Evans is an American politician, former police lieutenant, and Army Captain. He is currently a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing the 48th District.[1] A Republican, Evans represents a district that includes parts of Weld and Adams counties including the communities of Brighton, Lochbuie, Fort Lupton, Todd Creek, and Platteville.[2] Evans in the Republican nominee in the 2024 election for Colorado's 8th congressional district.
Evans is the grandson of Mexican immigrants.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in government and strategic intelligence from Patrick Henry College.[3]
Evans's military service includes two years in the Virginia Army National Guard from 2007 to 2009. After that, in 2009, he earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, while also joining and serving in the Colorado National Guard from 2009 to 2019. In the army he learned to fly UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2012 to 2013 and reached the rank of captain. In the Colorado Guard, he used his piloting skills to help fight wildfires and to carry out search and rescue missions. His work included being stationed at Buckley Air Force Base. He was honorably discharged in 2019.
In 2011, while serving in the Colorado National Guard, Evans joined the Arvada, Colorado Police Department. He reached the rank of lieutenant, and he retired in January 2022 to run for office.[4]
In the 2022 Colorado House of Representatives election, Evans defeated his Democratic Party and Libertarian Party opponents, winning 63.31% of the total votes cast.[5]
Evans has focused his tenure on criminal justice issues. He has sponsored bills aimed at "ensuring public employees get time off for National Guard service and studying whether judicial personnel are being properly trained on how to work with crime victims."[6]
On September 6, 2023, Evans announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to represent Colorado's 8th congressional district in the 2024 elections.[7] He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Evans defeated former Colorado State Representative Janak Joshi in the Republican primary. He will face the Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo in the November 2024 general election.[8]