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Adam DeRito
Adam DeRito (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Colorado's 8th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on June 30, 2026.[source]
DeRito completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Adam DeRito was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. He began serving in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2015. He earned a high school diploma from West Milford Township High School, as well as a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from the University of Colorado. His career experience includes working as a teacher, medical technician, firefighter, search and rescue technician, and energy consultant. DeRito has been affiliated with the following organizations:
- Turning Point USA
- Leatherwood Development Group
- Colorado Hispanic Republicans
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- American Legion
- Knights of Columbus[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Colorado's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 30, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 8
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 8 on June 30, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Shannon Bird | |
 | Daniel Hassler  | |
| Larry Johnson | ||
 | Evan Munsing | |
 | Manny Rutinel | |
 | John Szemler | |
 | Dave Young | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Amie Baca-Oehlert (D)
- Yadira Caraveo (D)
- Dylan Shelby (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 8
Incumbent Gabe Evans (R) and Adam DeRito (R) are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 8 on June 30, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Gabe Evans | |
 | Adam DeRito | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Adam DeRito completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by DeRito's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Adam served as an intelligence analyst during Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield, experiences that shaped his commitment to defend those who defend the nation. After returning home, he became a substitute teacher at a local Catholic school, choosing service and community as a path toward healing.
In the energy industry, Adam has worked alongside Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and oil field workers. He understands the importance of good union jobs, reliable energy, water security, and responsible economic growth. He believes Colorado’s 8th District should lead the nation in energy innovation and agricultural strength.
Nationally, Adam is known for his work exposing corruption in the military and championing justice for service members through the Military Mental Health Protection and Justice Act. His mission is simple. Truth. Accountability. Real protection.
Adam represents a new generation of leadership. Bold. Proven. Principled. He is committed to kitchen table issues, real conversations, and the courage to do what is right, even when it is not easy. He will serve veterans, working families, teachers, tradesmen, farmers, ranchers, and every citizen of the district.- Veterans: Keeping Our Promises and Standing Up for Those Who Served Colorado veterans deserve more than applause. They deserve action. I will fight to expand VA health care access, improve mental health support, and ensure faster claims processing. No veteran should struggle to get the care they earned. I will strengthen oversight, protect whistleblowers, and support policies that give service members real pathways to recovery and stability. Our duty to them does not expire.
- Food Sovereignty: Protecting Local Farms and Feeding Our Families Northern Colorado farms feed the state and the nation. I will protect water rights, invest in modern irrigation, and defend local producers from federal overreach. Families should not depend on foreign markets for basic food supplies. I will champion agricultural innovation, support ranchers and critical infrastructure unions that keep food moving, and push for federal programs that lower costs for producers so communities remain strong and self-sustaining.
- Energy: Lower Costs, Good Jobs, and an Economy That Works for Families Colorado can lead America in affordable and responsible energy. I will expand domestic production, support new development in oil, gas, and emerging technologies, and secure federal investment in infrastructure that keeps energy reliable. Families deserve lower utility bills and stable jobs. I will back the critical infrastructure unions that power our communities and ensure Colorado workers are at the center of our nation’s energy future.
One of the earliest influences in my life was my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Kissack. She was the first person outside my family who believed I could earn an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. She encouraged my ambition, pushed me to aim higher, and taught me that discipline and integrity matter long before anyone notices your efforts. Her faith in me helped set the course for my future.
On the field, my football coaches Shawn Poppe and Mike Koger taught me how to fight through adversity. They always told me to kick adversity in the teeth the moment it greets you at the door. That mindset stayed with me through the toughest moments of my military career and personal life. They taught me toughness, accountability, and the value of refusing to quit.
In the Army, I was shaped by leaders who saw the soldier I was and the leader I could become. SGT Immer, SFC Grimes and 1SG Bussey were the NCOs who taught me what real leadership looks like. They demanded excellence, but they also stood beside me in the hardest moments, treating me with fairness and respect throughout my deployment in the Middle East.
My commanders, 1LT Kraft, CPT Glenn, LTC Nysse, and LTC Gabbard, believed in my potential even when the system made it difficult. They helped me fight through injustices inside the military, and they stood with me as I worked to earn my commission. Their trust and guidance made it possible for me to lead soldiers in the greatest fighting force in the world.
An elected official must create laws that reflect the will of the people, not special interests. They must oversee federal agencies, demand accountability, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. They must enforce strong borders, stop illegal drugs and human trafficking, and defend due process so government never oversteps its authority.
I want to be remembered as someone who stood up to injustice, who challenged broken systems instead of becoming part of them, and who defended due process and accountability when others looked the other way. I want the next generation of soldiers, students, and young leaders to know that one person can make a difference when they refuse to back down.
Later that year, I followed the story of Captain Scott O’Grady being shot down over Bosnia. I was still eight. His survival, courage, and dramatic rescue captured my imagination. Watching a fighter pilot evade capture, rely on his training, and trust his country to bring him home inspired me deeply. It was the moment I first felt called to become a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.
The defining historical event of my youth was September 11, 2001. I was fourteen. That day changed the world, and it changed my family forever. My cousin, Michael McHugh, was killed in the attacks. At the same time, my uncle on my mother’s side survived by escaping the towers and walking miles from Manhattan to the northern edge of New York City just to find a working pay phone to let the family know he was alive. Losing one loved one and nearly losing another made the tragedy painfully real. It was not just a national event. It became a personal turning point. It shaped my understanding of sacrifice, service, and the responsibility we have to protect our country.
When I turned sixteen, I took on more roles at Camp Ocawasin in West Milford, New Jersey. I worked as a paintball referee, a camp counselor, an EMT, a lifeguard, and a grounds maintenance employee. Each job taught me something different. Paintball refereeing taught me fairness and how to stay calm under pressure. Being a counselor taught me leadership and patience. Working as an EMT and lifeguard taught me how to keep people safe and respond to emergencies. Grounds maintenance taught me the value of hard, physical labor.
The book does not romanticize war. It shows the pressure, the moral challenges, and the moments when character matters more than rank. I saw parts of my own story in his. The uncertainty, the determination, the desire to serve with honor, and the struggle to stay true to your values when the world around you becomes chaotic.
What I appreciate most is how the book highlights the impact of good leadership and the consequences of bad leadership. Those lessons influenced how I approached my own career, how I fought through injustice in the military, and how I lead soldiers today.
Captain America stands up to corruption, defends freedom, and refuses to compromise his values for convenience or politics. He believes in the goodness of the American people and fights for them no matter the cost. That is the kind of leader I strive to be. Someone who carries the weight of duty with honor, who looks out for his team, and who is willing to face adversity head on for the sake of others.
The aftermath was even harder. I had to rebuild my reputation, fight through legal barriers, and learn how to keep moving forward when it felt like powerful systems were aligned against me. There were days when the weight of it felt overwhelming. But that struggle also changed me. It deepened my faith, strengthened my resolve, and taught me what real resilience looks like.
What kept me going was my commitment to the soldiers, veterans, and service members who faced similar injustices but felt they had no voice. I refused to walk away. Instead, I chose to keep fighting, to hold systems accountable, and to turn my struggle into a mission that could help others.
The House also holds the power of the purse. No tax, spending plan, or major federal investment can move forward without the consent of the people’s representatives. That makes the House the first line of defense for fiscal responsibility, government transparency, and protecting taxpayers.
It is also the chamber where debate is most open and where diverse viewpoints can be heard. The House gives smaller communities and working families a direct seat at the table. It protects the principle that government should be responsive, accessible, and rooted in the lives of everyday Americans.
Representatives with backgrounds outside of politics bring something Washington desperately needs. Veterans, teachers, farmers, energy workers, and union members understand the daily challenges families face. They know what it means to work hard, live responsibly, and see the consequences of bad policy firsthand.
We also face growing international threats from adversarial nations that seek to weaken American influence and global stability. China, Russia, Iran, and non state actors will continue to test our military, economic, and diplomatic resolve. The United States must rebuild its defense posture, support its allies, and maintain strong leadership abroad to protect American interests.
Artificial intelligence is another emerging challenge that will shape our economy, our security, and our daily lives. AI can strengthen the nation, but it can also be misused by hostile governments and criminal networks. We must ensure AI serves the American worker, supports national defense, protects our critical infrastructure, and does not replace the human dignity of meaningful labor. America must lead in innovation while also safeguarding personal rights and national security.
At home, we must rebuild trust in government. Many Americans believe Washington no longer listens to them. Restoring transparency, accountability, and respect for due process will be essential for renewing faith in our institutions and returning power to the citizen.
Economically, we must secure energy independence, strengthen supply chains, and protect the food and water resources that sustain local families. Supporting domestic energy development, critical infrastructure unions, and the farmers and ranchers of Colorado will be vital for long term stability.
The short-term length prevents Washington from becoming insulated and forces representatives to earn the trust of their district on a regular basis. It also gives voters the ability to course correct quickly when leaders stop listening or fail to deliver results.
New voices bring new ideas. Regular citizens deserve the chance to step forward and lead, not just the political class. I support term limits for both the House and Senate because public service should be a temporary duty, not a permanent occupation. Representatives should serve with urgency, humility, and purpose, then return home to live under the laws they helped create.
I look to veterans in Congress who carried the values of service, duty, and personal sacrifice into public office. I respect representatives who fought for accountability in government, stood up for whistleblowers, defended due process, and worked relentlessly for veterans, working families, and the men and women who keep our country running.
What I want to model most is not a personality, but a standard. Honesty. Accessibility. Hard work. A representative who shows up in the community, listens to everyone, and tells the truth even when it is difficult. A leader who refuses to be controlled by lobbyists or party insiders and who measures success by the impact on regular people, not political gain.
He told me how long he waited for appointments, how many claims were delayed or denied, and how often he felt like a burden rather than a hero who had earned his care. What struck me most was that in the middle of the hardest battle of his life, he still worried about younger service members coming home after him. He said no one should ever have to face what he faced, and he wanted someone in Congress who understood the responsibility we owe to those who served.
His story represents the quiet suffering of far too many veterans across Colorado’s 8th District. It is a reminder that leadership is not about press releases or symbolic votes. It is about being there when people need you, especially when the stakes are life and death.
There are issues where compromise is possible, such as infrastructure, energy development, mental health care for veterans, and support for working families. On these matters, finding common ground can move our country forward and deliver real results for Colorado.
However, I will not compromise on the Constitution, border security, public safety, parental rights, or the sovereignty of the American worker. I will not trade away the values that define our nation or the rights that protect our people. Compromise should never mean surrender. It should be a tool to build solutions, not weaken them.
For me, this means using the power of the purse to lower costs for working families, support domestic energy production, strengthen food security, and invest in veterans’ health care. It means ensuring taxpayer dollars go toward improving critical infrastructure, not wasteful programs or special interest agendas.
It also means demanding transparency and accountability from federal agencies. If an agency is failing veterans, ignoring border security, or allowing drugs and trafficking to flow into our communities, Congress must use its budget authority to correct it.
To me, this means focusing investigations on issues that directly impact families and national security. The House should hold the VA accountable when veterans are denied care. It should investigate failures in border enforcement, the rise of drug trafficking, and the systems that allow fentanyl and criminals to enter our communities. It should demand transparency from agencies that waste taxpayer dollars or overstep their authority.
Investigative power should also be used to protect whistleblowers, defend due process, and ensure the federal government never operates without oversight. No agency should be immune from scrutiny, and no elected official should hide from accountability. This includes our U.S. military, where from my experience, there needs to be significant reform to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to protect our service members from retaliation for doing the right thing.
He said he is afraid of losing his job because of excessive regulations pushed by people who have never stepped foot inside a refinery or talked to the workers who keep it operational. He worries that politicians see his job as something disposable, even though it provides good union wages, benefits, and stability for families like his.
What struck me most was that he was not asking for favors. He simply wanted fairness and recognition for the contribution he makes to our community and our energy security. He reminded me that when policy destroys an industry, it destroys families along with it. His job is not just a paycheck. It is a pathway to the middle class and a foundation for his children’s future.
What makes this accomplishment meaningful is not the rank itself, but what it represents. It reflects the trust of my NCOs and commanders who believed in me. It reflects the years of effort to clear my name, stand up for the truth, and protect other service members facing similar battles. It reflects the commitment to serve my country with honor, integrity, and empathy.
First, AI must be a national security priority. Adversaries like China and Russia are already weaponizing artificial intelligence for cyber operations, surveillance, and military advantage. The United States must invest in AI research that protects our critical infrastructure, supports our military, and keeps us ahead of hostile nations.
Second, the government should set clear safeguards that prevent AI from being misused against American citizens. AI must never replace due process, violate privacy, or undermine constitutional rights. Transparency and accountability are essential.
Third, we must protect American workers. AI should augment human labor, not replace the dignity and stability of the workforce. The government should support training programs, partner with critical infrastructure unions, and make sure AI strengthens our economy instead of hollowing it out.
Finally, the federal government should support innovation by partnering with private industry and universities, while preventing monopolies or foreign influence from controlling key technologies.
I would support legislation that:
1. Requires nationwide voter identification
A secure and accessible voter ID standard helps protect elections while maintaining full access for eligible voters. It is common sense and already used in many states.
2. Ensures accurate and regularly maintained voter rolls
States should keep rolls updated by removing deceased voters, verifying addresses, and preventing duplicate registrations, while also protecting against improper removals.
3. Expands support for secure in person voting and early voting
This includes investing in polling locations, election workers, and accessible options for working families, military members, and rural communities.
4. Strengthens chain of custody and ballot tracking
Every ballot, whether cast in person or by mail, must be tracked with full transparency to prevent mishandling or tampering. It would be preferable to have in-person voting and paper ballots, but this would require significant overhaul to our election system, especially in the state of Colorado.
5. Protects the rights of military and overseas voters
Service members should never face obstacles when voting. Their ballots should be prioritized, tracked, and verified efficiently.
6. Enhances cyber and physical security for election systems
The federal government should help states safeguard election infrastructure from foreign and domestic threats without taking control away from the states.
7. Requires transparency in election administration
Public reporting, clear procedures, and open audits help rebuild trust and ensure accountability.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 3, 2025
