Progressive state lawmaker Manny Rutinel defeated a more moderate Democratic rival to secure the party’s nomination in Colorado’s most closely contested swing district, according to the Associated Press.
He is now set to face Republican Representative Gabe Evans, who is considered politically vulnerable, in a contest that could play a key role in deciding which party gains control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
With a background as a Dominican American lawyer and former animal rights activist, Rutinel combined his legal experience with a strong social media following and fundraising strength to appeal to voters. His diverse heritage also played a key role in his campaign in a suburban district north of Denver, where nearly 40 percent of residents are Latino.
By early Wednesday, Rutinel was ahead by more than 25 percentage points against Shannon Bird, a moderate white candidate who had argued she was better positioned to perform well in the general election.
In a statement, Bird congratulated Rutinel and called on supporters to rally behind him in the general election against Evans.
The district—an area known for ranching and agriculture—backed Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2020 before flipping narrowly to President Trump in 2024. It is among a small number of competitive House seats nationwide with a significant Latino population. The current officeholder, Gabe Evans, is of Mexican American heritage.
Long before he clinched the Democratic nomination, Rutinel had already come under sustained attack from Republicans, setting the stage for what is expected to be a costly and hard-fought general election. The House Republican campaign arm has seized on his previous comments criticising meat and dairy consumption, framing them as evidence that he may not align with the values of the agricultural-heavy district.
In a later clarification, Rutinel addressed his earlier comments in an interview with The Colorado Sun, saying, “Like all industry, there are bad apples, and I’ve spoken out against those bad apples that cause extreme and unnecessary animal cruelty in parts of the food industry and against the environmental cost of unsustainable food practices.”
In 2020, Rutinel moved to Colorado to work on Senator John Hickenlooper’s first Senate campaign.
The contest is also expected to examine how voters in the district feel about artificial intelligence, as well as the broader influence of the technology industry on public opinion and political attitudes.
Rutinel, who played a role in drafting Colorado’s artificial intelligence regulation law, benefited from significant funding from external organisations linked to technology leaders concerned about unregulated A.I. Several of these groups also invested heavily in opposing Bird, who advocated for a more cautious approach to A.I. regulation.
A pro–A.I. regulation super PAC supporting Rutinel also aired advertisements that included footage of Pope Leo XIV stating that “artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed.”
The Colorado Catholic Church, however, clarified that it does not endorse any political candidate.
Evans has publicly expressed reservations about imposing excessive regulations on artificial intelligence.
