This is the first in a two-part series on the effect of the Latino vote in Colorado's 6th Congressional District.

In one of this year's most hotly contested elections, Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff is confident he will defeat Republican incumbent Mike Coffman in the battle to represent Colorado's 6th District.

"Everything's been great, looks like we're going to win. It'll be close," Romanoff told Latin Post. "We've got more volunteers, we've made more money and we've got a more compelling message than the opposition," he continued.

"I say it all the time, if you like the way Congress works, then you should definitely find another candidate, but most of the people I talked to want a congressman who will fight to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class. That's what I did in the state House and that's what I'll do in the U.S. House."

While Romanoff is optimistic about his win over the three-term congressman, the road to Washington won't be an easy one. Coffman narrowly defeated his last Democratic challenger Joe Miklosi in 2012, despite the restructuring of the 6th District after the 2010 Census.

Near record-low support for Congress, 13 percent according to Gallup, however, may help Romanoff's campaign. Gallup reports that it found a connection between congressional approval and seat changes in Congress when approval is below 40 percent during midterm elections.

Accordingly, Coffman's campaign has not held back when it comes to attacking Romanoff. Following the release of his first campaign video, Coffman's campaign manager scoffed at the former Speaker's state legislative record and took a stab at his Ivy League education.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Tyler Houlton also commented, saying Romanoff would "be nothing more than a puppet for Nancy Pelosi and Washington special interests if sent to Washington."

When asked about Houlton's comment, Romanoff laughed and said, "Well, I think, first, that responding to every silly attack that comes out from the opposition would be a full-time job. It's just not the job I'm applying for. Second, I'd say that the opposition wants to make the election about Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. They're not on the ballot -- I am."

Romanoff endured similar attacks on his position on the budget and his stand against PACs during the first two debates between the candidates.

Attacks from the GOP aside, Romanoff told Latin Post he would definitely be willing to work across the aisle if he makes it to Washington. "I think that I'm eager to work with Democrats and Republicans," he said. "[I] think that balancing the budget, making higher education more affordable, ensuring equal pay for equal work, creating a clean energy economy, those shouldn't be partisan priorities."

The district's rising Latino population may also help the Democrat secure the win in this year's midterm election. Romanoff seemed confident that he could better serve Latino constituents in Colorado's 6th District than his opponent. "That's why we've picked up so much support from so many leaders in the Latino community and other groups across the district," he said.

However, instead of steering the conversation about Latinos to immigration reform, Romanoff focused on the economy. "You know the economy remains the top priority for most families, Latino and otherwise, in the district," he said.

"We have more plans to get more Americans back to work and create more good middle class jobs. This congressman is steering us in the wrong direction," Romanoff added. He criticized his opponent for "providing tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas" and for "proposing to cut higher education."

The focus on the economy and higher education were echoed in a later interview with Politico's Jake Sherman, where the Democrat said that immigration is "a big issue, it's not the only issue." He explained that he believed the top issues were making higher education more affordable, pay equality, raising the minimum wage and moving toward a "clean energy economy," Politico reported.

However, Romanoff spoke passionately about immigration reform and credited his family for shaping the way he approached the issue. The Democrat, whose mother and four grandparents are immigrants, said, "I wouldn't be here, not just in Aurora, I wouldn't be in the United States if this country had not opened its doors to my family. And I'm glad we're here. I think we're better off, not just as a family, but as a nation because we've welcomed so many people from so many different places to contribute their talents."

He also criticized H.R. 5272, a bill passed by the House over the summer just before leaving for a five-week break that would have prevented renewal of President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. "I think [H.R. 5272] is a mistake and I oppose it. And that would be the fourth time the House has voted to attack DACA. On all three previous occasions, Congressman Coffman voted with the anti-DACA forces. I'm glad that he switched his vote at the last minute right before they went on vacation," he said.

"This district deserves someone who is committed to immigration reform, and what we have instead is a congressman who opposes the bipartisan immigration plan that the Senate adopted more than a year ago, a congressman who opposes the House counterpart to that plan, a congressman who called the DREAM Act a nightmare ... a congressman who's voted three times now to subject DREAMers to the immediate threat of deportation," he added.

The candidate said he would be willing to rally support for a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate's bipartisan immigration reform bill if he were in Congress.

Romanoff added, "In this congressional district alone, we are home to people from 130 different countries who speak 120 different languages. And that should be, you know, a source of pride and celebration."

Romanoff will face Coffman in The Denver Post's next congressional debate on Sept. 23.