Colorado State Representative Manny Rutinel claimed the Democratic nomination Tuesday, positioning himself to face off against Republican U.S. Representative Gabe Evans in a competitive congressional district that Democrats have identified as one of their best chances for a pickup, according to projections from U.S. media outlets.
Rutinel, who ran as a progressive, edged out moderate former state Representative Shannon Bird in a primary race where immigration dominated the conversation. The district, which covers Denver’s northern suburbs and surrounding rural communities, has a population that is close to 40% Latino.
House control is very much in play heading into November’s midterm elections, with Democrats needing a net gain of three seats to take the majority. That effort has been complicated on the national level by redistricting battles, particularly after President Donald Trump pushed Texas Republicans to redraw their state’s congressional boundaries in a move aimed at helping his party maintain its hold on the House.
Evans won his seat by a slim margin in 2024 and currently holds a substantial financial edge over Rutinel. Campaign finance reports show Evans with $3.4 million in cash on hand, compared to roughly $910,000 for Rutinel.
