Colorado’s 8th Congressional District—which encompasses parts of Adams, Larimer and Weld Counties, including Thornton, Commerce City, Greeley and Northglenn—has never been decided by more than a single percentage point since it was created after the 2020 census, and this year is no different.
Republican US Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton), who beat Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton) by about 2,500 votes in 2024. He faces Democratic state Rep. Manny Rutinel (D-Commerce City) in a race that could help decide which party controls the US House, where Republicans hold a narrow 218-212 majority with one independent and four vacancies, as of mid-August. The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball all rate the race a toss-up, meaning there is no clear frontrunner yet.
Who’s running
Evans, 40, is a Fort Lupton Republican finishing his first term in Congress. He spent 12 years in the US Army and Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot, including a combat deployment to the Middle East. He also worked for more than a decade as an Arvada police officer before winning a state House seat in 2022 and Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in 2024. He was unopposed for the Republican nomination this year.
Manny Rutinel, 31, is a Commerce City Democrat appointed to the state House in 2023. Raised by a single mother who relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, he later worked as an economist for the US Army Corps of Engineers and as an environmental attorney before entering politics. He defeated former state Rep. Shannon Bird (D-Westminster) 61% to 34% in the June 30 Democratic primary.
Where they stand
Economy and taxes
- Evans voted for the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), the 2025 tax and spending law that permanently extended 2017 tax cuts and added new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and has taken “100%” credit for its passage.
- Rutinel opposes the law, arguing it funds tax cuts by cutting programs seniors and people with disabilities depend on, and opposes the Trump administration’s tariffs.
Healthcare and Medicaid
Context: The OBBBA, passed along party lines with all Democrats opposing, cuts an estimated $1 trillion from federal Medicaid spending over 10 years nationally. Colorado is projected to lose about $14 billion, or 16% of its federal Medicaid funding, according to KFF analysis cited by The Colorado Sun. In Congressional District 8 specifically, 191,837 residents—26% of the district—are covered by Medicaid.
- Evans says the bill “doesn’t cut Medicaid,” a claim a Georgetown University Medicaid policy expert called misleading and incorrect.
- Rutinel has campaigned on restoring the funding, saying he’s running to stop what he calls a “backdoor cut” to safety-net programs.
Immigration
- Evans voted for the Laken Riley Act and Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, and co-sponsored the Dignity Act, which would pair a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants with stricter border enforcement, $7,000 in restitution, and denial of federal benefits.
- Rutinel supports comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship, and has attempted legislative oversight of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities as a state lawmaker.
Worth noting: Evans has repeatedly invoked his grandfather, Cuauhtemoc Chavez, as an example of “legal” immigration. But Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) records obtained by Colorado Newsline show that Chavez entered the country illegally in 1929 at age 5, lived undocumented for 12 years, and was later arrested and placed in deportation proceedings before earning citizenship through military service. Evans’ office has not disputed the documents.
Energy
Weld County is one of Colorado’s top counties for producing oil and gas.
- Evans sits on the US House Energy and Commerce Committee—the first incoming freshman added to the panel in 14 years—and has focused on defending domestic oil and gas production.
- Rutinel now says he supports an “all-of-the-above” energy policy that includes a continued role for natural gas.
Worth noting: Rutinel’s energy position has shifted. Early in his campaign, he supported a ban on fracking, though his campaign manager told The Colorado Sun in June his position changed because the Iran war raised gas prices. Rutinel also reversed earlier statements supporting single-payer healthcare and canceling all student debt.
Guns
- Evans opposes new gun restrictions, is affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and has drawn criticism from gun-safety advocates for past comments about arming teachers.
- Rutinel has sponsored state legislation restricting large-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices, and requiring law enforcement agencies to register with a federal firearms-tracing system. The gun-safety group Giffords has endorsed him, citing that record.
Money and endorsements
Evans has raised $5.39 million and holds $3.88 million cash on hand. Rutinel has raised $4.33 million but has just $601,000 on hand after an expensive primary.
Evans has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who campaigned for him in Colorado this month.
Rutinel is endorsed by former US Sens. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and several members of Congress, per his campaign’s endorsement page. His campaign has also drawn national attention for roughly $265,000 in direct donations from employees of artificial intelligence (AI) companies, including about $162,000 from Anthropic employees.
Outside groups, including House Majority Forward, have reserved Spanish-language television ads attacking Evans over the OBBBA vote.
How to vote
Every active registered Colorado voter gets a mail ballot no later than 18 days before Election Day. Register by Oct. 26 to get one mailed. Same-day registration is available in person through Nov. 3. Ballots must reach your county clerk by 7 p.m. Nov. 3, regardless of when it was postmarked.
