Manny Rutinel Wins Colorado Primary, Faces Vulnerable Republican in Fall

Manny Rutinel, a progressive state representative, claimed victory in the primary election for Colorado’s most competitive House district, defeating a moderate Democrat. He will now challenge Representative Gabe Evans, a Republican perceived as vulnerable, in the fall. This contest will be crucial in determining the House’s balance of power.

Rutinel, a Dominican American and former animal rights activist with a strong social media presence, connects well with voters in the largely Latino suburban area north of Denver. Late Tuesday, he led by over 25 percentage points against Shannon Bird, a moderate opponent who argued her wider appeal in a general election.

Bird congratulated Rutinel and urged voters to rally against Evans. The district, known for ranching and agriculture, is one of the few battleground areas with significant Latino residents. Notably, it supported Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2020 and President Trump in 2024. Incumbent Evans is also Mexican American.

Even before securing the Democratic nomination, Rutinel was targeted by Republican attacks, suggesting a heated and costly general election campaign. The GOP emphasized his history of criticizing meat and dairy consumption, portraying him as unsuitable for the agricultural district. Rutinel countered this by acknowledging issues with certain practices in the food industry, aiming to clarify his stance.

Manny Rutinel relocated to Colorado in 2020 to work on Senator John Hickenlooper’s campaign. His campaign will also gauge the district’s stance on artificial intelligence regulation.

Rutinel, who contributed to Colorado’s A.I. law, received backing from tech-affiliated groups concerned about unchecked A.I. These groups also opposed Ms. Bird’s campaign against aggressive A.I. regulation. Ads supporting Rutinel featured Pope Leo XIV discussing the need to control artificial intelligence. The Colorado Catholic Church stated it does not support any political candidates.

Meanwhile, Evans expressed concerns about excessive A.I. regulation.