August 25th , 2026 Len’s Political Note #834 Manny Rutinel Colorado 08
2026 General Election
For its entire, but brief existence, Colorado 08 has been a toss-up. The district, which extends in a straight line north from Denver, was created for the 2022 election as a result of Colorado’s growth. A Democrat won in 2022. A Republican won in 2024. If Democrat Manny Rutinel cannot win in 2026, Colorado 08 will be on its way to becoming a Republican district.
Manny Rutinel has been a smart kid. He is 31 now and has grown a little older and may have grown a little wiser.
After Manny Rutinel was born in Los Angeles, his single mom took him home to the Dominican Republic. When he was six, she brought him back to the States; this time, to Florida. He went to school there, worked at McDonald’s during high school and, presumably after he turned 18, sold his blood to help out the family. He went to community college in New Port Richey, getting his AA in 2013. He finished at the University of Florida in 2016 with a BS in microbiology and a BA in economics. While he studied at Florida, he worked as a substitute teacher.
Manny Rutinel would not stop. He got a Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins in applied economics in 2018. He did a little applied economics while he was at it. He worked as an economist for the US Army Corps of engineers who focused on projects along the Niagara River. Then Manny Rutinel hit the jackpot. He was admitted to and graduated from Yale Law School in 2022. That was four years ago.
Corporate law was not for him. Neither were the giant law firms. Badly as he might have wanted the money the law firms paid, Manny Rutinel opted to work for Earthjustice in Denver. He had been a policy fellow for Governor John Hickenlooper during the fall semester of 2020. After a year and a quarter at Denver’s Earthjustice he ran for and was elected as a State Rep. As a first term State Rep, he got a bill passed and signed by the governor. The law required a facility that did research on animals to offer a dog or cat to an animal shelter or the like so it could be adopted before the animal was considered for euthanization.
Not bad. Not earth shaking. But a good result. His other proposals made progress – bills that addressed housing, that would improve the climate, that would regulate Artificial Intelligence.
Manny Rutinel was convinced. He could move on up. He ran for the US House of Representatives. He intended to defeat one-term Republican Congressman Gabe Evans. First, he had to defeat fellow State Rep, 57-year old Shannon Bird. With little to choose from on policy issues, he touted the importance of youth and, in a district that was 40% Hispanic, ethnicity. He won handily – 63—33.
Between now and November 3, Manny Rutinel will have policy issues to discuss with Incumbent Gabe Evans. Manny Rutinel began the campaign celebrating his primary victory with his crowd. The Colorado Sun reported: “The crowd….applauded when Rutinel vowed to restore funding to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. They booed when he accused Evans of cutting food aid.”
Shannon Bird might have had some issues to discuss with Manny Rutinel. The Sun reported that his voting record was more progressive on immigration and housing, though he sounded moderate during the campaign. He actually changed some of his positions for the campaign. He no longer argued for banning fracking. He withdrew his support for cancelling all student debt. During the campaign, he did not support Medicare for All.
The Colorado Newsline had an article ready as soon as the Democratic primary was over. The column mocked Manny Rutinel’s reversal from being a passionate advocate for the welfare of farm animals and an opponent to factory farming to acceptance of this core industry of Colorado 08.
Manny Rutinel responds to this mockery by explaining that he had toured the local farms and dairies and found that they were doing things right: “They’re grazing appropriately and they’re using sustainable watering practices and they’re sourcing their feed from sustainable sources.” Furthermore, he says, legislating involves incremental change and negotiation. His views evolved from his (not quite, long ago) student days. People, he said, don’t want ideological politicians and ideological politicians don’t get things done. He did not say, but I will. He got a law passed in the Colorado legislature to protect cats and dogs. Young man that he is, Manny Rutinel has learned how to be a practical politician.
Gabe Evans has to work to present himself as a moderate. He opposes abortion, but would leave decisions about the procedure to states. He would not prohibit Trump’s use of the military in the Middle East because the president needs flexibility. He would allow US Citizens to sponsor their spouses and supports the DIGNIDAD Act which would create a pathway to legal status, but not citizenship. The pathway includes mandatory work requirements and has restitution requirements. Gabe Evans cannot escape his vote for the law which eliminated subsidies and increasd health insurance costs for those relying on the Affordable Care Act and which cut Medicaid funds resulting in the elimination of health insurance for millions of people. Evans has continued to support Trump’s tariffs, whiffed on his chance to grill representatives of ICE, and continues supporting Trump on issue after issue.
Flip this seat. Send Manny Rutinel to Congress. DONATE to his campaign.
Other Colorado Races
Governor: Former Attorney General Democrat Phil Weiser is running against Republican Victor Marx who claimed and then withdrew the claim that his organization All Things Possible rescued 45,000 women and children from abuse. An August poll shows a generic Democrat leading a generic Republican by 12 points. Phil Weiser raised $6.7 million and had $400,000 cash on hand after a competitive primary. Victor Marx raised $3 million and had $200,000 cash on hand after his primary. It is unlikely that Phil Weiser is facing a serious challenge, but if you want to be sure about this: DONATE to Phil Weiser’s campaign.
Attorney General. The current Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold is running for Attorney General. The Republicans have nominated District Attorney Michael J Allen who is critical of Democratic Attorneys General for participating in what he called political law suits. You can DONATE to Jena Griswold who will continue to seek justice for Coloradans and all Americans.
Secretary of State. County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez, Democrat and former head of Common Cause in Colorado, argues for transparency in government and elections. Republican nominee James Wiley says he is called the Red Flame of Liberty. He opposes electronic voting systems. Help Amanda Gonzalez win this election and maintain stability in the oversight of elections. At a time when the President threatens to meddle with elections, ideologues in a role that regulates elections are dangerous. DONATE to Amanda Gonzaelez’campaign.
Colorado 01 Former Corporate Attorney Melat Kiros ousted the Democratic incumbent in the primary. She opposes Republican Christy Peterson. There are no polls. After raising $1.1 million and defeating the incumbent in a primary, Melat Kiros had $100,000 on June 30. Republican Christy Peterson raised $2,000 for her campaign and has spent very little of that small amount. If you are worried that Melat Kiros needs you to raise another $1 million or more for this District which Cook rates as solidly Democratic, DONATE to her campaign.
Colorado 03 Army Vet and Democrat Dwayne Romero is challenging incumbent Republican Jeff Hurd. A late July poll funded by Democrats found Hurd leading by a single point. Hurd is clearly winning the financial race. On June 30, he had $1.8 million. Romero had less than $100,000. Cook considers this race as Likely Republican, an accurate estimate. DONATE to Dwayne Romero. It is possible, but unlikely, that this seat could be flipped.
Colorado 04. Former Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher is working hard as the Democratic nominee to oust Lauren Boebert from Congress. Cook considers the seat as Safe Republican. There are no polls. Boebert must think her seat is so safe she can coast. She raised $1 million and had $250,000 remaining on June 30. Eileen Laubacher raised $10.3 million and had $3.6 million on June 30. Eileen Laubacher is a serious person. Will Colorado 04 elect a serious person? Will your donation make a difference in this race? The odds are against a win by Eileen Laubacher, but it is hard to resist trying. DONATE to Eileen Laubacher’s campaign.
Colorado 05. Cook rates this contest as Likely Republican. As Chief of Staff to Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband, Jessica Killin spent enough time in Washington to know what she is doing. The only recent poll, a Democratic funded one from July, found incumbent Republican Jeff Crank up by a single point. In the financial race, Jessica Killin raised $3.1 million to Crank’s $2.2 million. On June 30, she had $1.6 million available to his $1.5 million. This is a race where money could make a difference. DONATE to Jessica Killin’s campaign.
