Manny Rutinel, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, won a primary race on Tuesday evening, securing his party’s bid to challenge incumbent Rep.Gabe Evans, R-Colo.Rutinel, a member of the state’s House of Representatives, faces one of the country’s most competitive races that could help decide the balance of power in Washington, D.C., where Republicans hold a governing trifecta across the House, Senate and Oval Office.Democrats see seats like this district as a prime opportunity to pry away the GOP’s narrow grip on the House, where they have a slim majority.Evans, the current seat holder, won the election in 2024 by just 0.8%.REPUBLICAN GABE EVANS WINS COLORADO'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BEATING INCUMBENT YADIRA CARAVEORep.
Gabe Evans, R-Colo., speaks during the Congressional Hispanic Conference press conference at the U.S.Capitol on March 25, 2025.
(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)Rutinel, a former state legislator, has pitched himself as a Democrat ready to protect government programs against GOP cuts and protect minorities against government overreach.On his website, he lists protecting Social Security and Medicaid, expanding tax credits, ending Trump’s immigration crackdown, and lowering housing costs among his top priorities."I was raised on Medicaid.It's deeply personal for me and now Donald Trump and Gabe Evans are trying to destroy it to give tax breaks to their billionaire buddies," Rutinel said in a campaign video posted to Instagram."I’m afraid of Donald Trump continuing to destroy our democracy and our economy and making life impossible for working people and Latino immigrants across the country."REPUBLICANS TARGET 2 KEY DEMOCRATIC RACES WITH MAMDANI CONNECTION STRATEGYRep.
Manny Rutinel, democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District, poses for a portrait at the house Chamber of Colorado State Capitol building in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026.(Hyoung Chang/Th...