Rutinel wins Colorado 8th, ends Evans' two-year term

Democrat Manny Rutinel will replace Gabe Evans in Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

The Associated Press projected Rutinel's victory on Tuesday night. At 9:51 p.m., Rutinel held 56% of the vote compared to Evans' 41%. Officials had counted 75% of the expected total. The win sends the 31-year-old former state representative from Commerce City to Washington.

Rutinel campaigned on lowering costs for families. He pledged to reverse cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and food assistance. Those cuts are part of the 2025 Republican tax and spending law that Evans supported. Evans, a former Arvada police lieutenant, won the seat in 2024 by a margin of less than one percentage point.

The district covers fast-growing suburbs north of Denver, blue-collar towns along U.S. 85, and agricultural areas in Weld County. Communities include Brighton, Thornton, Commerce City, Fort Lupton, Greeley, and Berthoud. Hispanic or Latino voters make up 38.5% of the district's population, according to the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission.

Evans focused his campaign on border security, public safety, and affordability. He emphasized his background as the grandson of Mexican immigrants while advocating for stricter immigration policies. In a June interview, Evans stated, "We've got to secure the border. We've got to get the bad guys.. out of our communities, but we also have to have a pathway for those folks that are trying to do things the right way."

Evans defended his vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He argued that the new Medicaid work requirements ensure funds reach those who need them most. State data shows one in four people in the 8th District are covered by Medicaid. Evans said, "If you are an able-bodied working-aged adult with no young kids, you have to work, volunteer, or go to school part time.. in order to qualify for Medicaid."

Rutinel is the son of a single mother who immigrated from the Dominican Republic. He holds a master's degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from Yale. He previously worked as an economist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as an attorney for the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice. Federal Election Commission filings cited by Colorado Politics show the race drew more than $17 million in outside spending. House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned with Evans in the district in late October.