Evans, Rutinel lead fundraising in Colorado's 8th District race
The big picture: Six candidates vying for the 8th Congressional District seat have raised just over $4 million this election cycle, according to the latest federal filings.
Why it matters: The fundraising surge reflects Democrats' urge to claw back power in 2026, while Republicans are keen on preserving their slim majority to advance President Trump's policies in the final two years of his term.
By the numbers: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton) tops all 8th District candidates, raising $1.7 million this year — $838,369 in the second quarter alone — nearing the total he raised in the general election last year, his campaign tells us.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel are setting themselves apart from their Democratic peers. Bird, who joined the race in May, outraised her fellow Democrats with a $446,559 haul in the second quarter, while Rutinel collected $416,071.
His total fundraising — $1.6 million — makes him the only Democrat keeping pace with Evans, whose campaign received an additional $9,500 in the second quarter from a joint fundraising committee with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnston, per Colorado Politics.
State of play: Seven Democrats are trying to flip a seat viewed largely as a toss-up in what's shaping up to be the first truly competitive Democratic primary in the district's brief history.
Denis Abrate, Amie Baca-Oehlert, Yadira Caraveo and Dave Young join Bird and Rutinel in trying to defeat Evans, who flipped the seat last year.
Abrate hasn't reported raising money yet. Meanwhile, U.S. Marine veteran Evan Munsing jumped into the race Thursday.
Follow the money: Behind Evans, Rutinel and Bird in fundraising in the second quarter were Caraveo ($214,099), Young ($74,919) and Baca-Oehlert ($57,647). Young and Baca-Oehlert declared their candidacy last month.
The intrigue: Caraveo, the first person elected to the new seat in 2022, is lagging behind her Democratic opposition, signaling her chances at regaining a seat she lost to Evans may be dwindling.
What they're saying:"While others are playing politics, Gabe Evans is lapping the competition and delivering wins that matter," a spokesperson for the Republican congressman told us in a statement.
"People are rallying behind my campaign to put a stop to Trump's disastrous agenda," Rutinel said in a statement, adding his campaign has received an average contribution of $28 from more than 30,000 people.
"Thanks to our strong early support, we are well on our way to firing Gabe Evans," Bird said in a statement.
The bottom line: With less than a year until the primary, Rutinel and Bird appear locked in a Democratic fundraising battle — but Evans' cash advantage looms large over the field.
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