State Representative Manny Rutinel won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, defeating former state Representative Shannon Bird with 60.6% of the vote to Bird's 34.6%, according to the Associated Press. This victory sets up a matchup against Republican Representative Gabe Evans in the northern Denver suburbs.
The primary was competitive, with Rutinel advocating for representation that reflects the district's Latino plurality, while Bird focused on her centrist appeal. Rutinel received endorsements from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, whereas Bird was supported by centrist groups such as the Bench and the Blue Dog Coalition.
Rutinel's campaign gained momentum in the final weeks, aided by increased funding from tech and crypto sources, while Bird's campaign saw a reduction in television advertising. Some Democratic strategists expressed concern that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) did not support Bird, who was perceived as the more electable candidate. Rutinel's nomination may lead to increased spending for Democrats in the general election, but they still view him as a viable candidate. The race is anticipated to be highly competitive, as Evans won his seat by a narrow margin of fewer than 3,000 votes in 2024.