Latest news with #Rutinel
Axios
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
How a primary could shape the 8th Congressional race
Democrat Yadira Caraveo's challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans for the 8th District seat is making Colorado's most competitive congressional race just a little more complicated. State of play: The district, stretching from the suburbs north of Denver toward Greeley, is currently considered a toss-up — and pivotal if Democrats want to retake a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yes, but: Before Caraveo can seek a rematch with Evans, who defeated her in last year's election, she will face a Democratic primary against state Rep. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City, who announced his candidacy in January. Why it matters: Research suggests a competitive primary can translate to higher voter engagement and turnout in the general election, University of Denver political science assistant professor Phil Chen tells us. It will mark the first contested Democratic primary for a district created after the 2020 census; Caraveo ran unopposed in the 2022 and 2024 primaries. The big picture: The strongest primary candidate will probably be whoever can prove to voters they're both willing and able to rebuke President Trump's policies in Congress. Context: Caraveo, Rutinel and other possible candidates will be gunning for the nomination of a party whose favorability has sunk statewide since last November. Many Democratic voters are frustrated over what they see as an inadequate response to Trump. What they're saying: Voters want "fighting Democrats" who will stand up to the president, Colorado Working Families Party state director Wynn Howell tells us. Friction point: "We're a little too early to really know whether the [Democratic] primary will be competitive," Chen adds. Zoom in: Caraveo, in a statement, said Evans has "already shown that he will always put Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and his MAGA backers in Washington first." Rutinel tells us in a statement he's focused on priorities people in his district care about, including protecting Medicaid, making housing more affordable and supporting workers. The other side: "Democrats officially have a base problem and are in an all-out primary battle to the left," Evans' spokesperson Delanie Bomar said in a statement, adding there's a "messy" primary ahead. Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement labeled Caraveo "another out-of-touch liberal" and called Rutinel an "extreme Democrat." By the numbers: Rutinel has an early fundraising edge, collecting $1.2 million during the year's first quarter, outraising the roughly $811,000 haul by Evans during the same span, per federal record filings.
The Hill
07-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Democrat running for competitive Colorado House seat raises over $1M
Democratic candidate Manny Rutinel, who's running for a competitive House seat in Colorado, has raised more than $1.1 million in the first quarter of fundraising of this year. Rutinel, a state representative, raised more than $1.1 million between January and March of this year, according to figures first shared with The Hill. The average donation for his campaign was $32 and he received contributions from more than 27,000 unique donors. Within the first day of his campaign, he raked in more than $400,000. Rutinel is running against first-term Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), who defeated former Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) — the first person to hold the seat since the district had been added to Colorado's House map following redistricting. 'With an average contribution of $32, it's clear that everyday people — not billionaires — are powering this campaign because they want an economy that works for everyone, lower costs for hardworking families, and more good-paying jobs,' Rutinel said in a statement. 'I've spent years fighting for their jobs, their health care, and their safety, and I will continue that fight in Congress. This campaign is about people coming together to demand real leadership that puts working families first,' he added. Colorado's 8th Congressional District is situated south of Fort Collins and east of Boulder. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat a 'toss up.'
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State Rep. Manny Rutinel running for Congress in Colorado's battleground 8th District
Democratic state Rep. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City is running for Colorado's 8th Congressional District. (Courtesy of Manny Rutinel for Congress) Less than a month into the 119th Congress, first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans has already drawn his first challenger in Colorado's most competitive congressional district. Democratic state Rep. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City announced Monday he would seek to represent the 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of Adams and Weld counties north of Denver, in the 2026 midterm elections. 'I am honored to declare my candidacy for Congress to serve the diverse and hardworking communities of Colorado's 8th District,' Rutinel said in a press release. 'I have seen firsthand how rising housing and health care costs, along with limited job opportunities, are hurting our community. Together, we can address the pressing issues facing our district and ensure a prosperous future for all residents.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The tossup 8th District will again be a key battleground in the national contest for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin three-seat majority in the House, thanks in part to Evans' unseating of former Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th District last year. Rutinel, an environmental attorney, was first appointed in 2023 by a vacancy committee to represent House District 32 in the state Legislature, and he won election to a full term last year. His campaign announcement touted his work on legislation expanding access to health care, housing and poverty-reducing tax credits, along with endorsements from more than 20 fellow Democrats in the Legislature. The 8th District, created by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, spans Democratic-leaning Denver suburbs in Adams County and more conservative and rural areas in southern Weld County. An estimated 40% of the district's population is Latino. Evans, a former state lawmaker who spoke often of his heritage as the grandson of Mexican immigrants, defeated Caraveo by roughly 2,500 votes in November. Embracing the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Evans promised to support aggressive border security measures and the deportation of violent criminals, but since his election he has consistently dodged questions about the Trump administration's broader efforts to drastically restrict legal pathways to immigration and citizenship. Rutinel is the son of a single mother who immigrated from the Dominican Republic. His campaign announcement made little direct mention of immigration issues, promising to 'focus on key issues affecting the district including reducing housing and healthcare costs and creating good-paying jobs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and defending the rights and freedoms of all Coloradans.' 'This district is a reflection of everything that makes Colorado extraordinary: its diversity, its resilience, and its hardworking people,' Rutinel said. 'But we're under attack. Some politicians in Congress are scheming to slash Social Security and Medicare while hiking prices on groceries and other essential goods. I'll fight tooth and nail to stop these reckless attacks and ensure working families get the support they deserve.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
