News and press Releases
News
-
The day after the Colorado Times Recorder revealed that ICE has been detaining immigrants in at least nine makeshift facilities throughout Colorado, 31 state lawmakers — led by congressional candidate Manny Rutinel — sent a letter to the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE stating that the “existence of undisclosed detention sites, ‘hidden in plain sight’ between strip malls and office parks, is unacceptable.”
-
-
Manny Rutinel, a Yale Law School Graduate turned Colorado State Representative…is a rising star in the Democratic Party and…is poised to flip the Seat during the midterms.
-
“In just six weeks, Rutinel entered seven-figure territory with the help of more than 23,000 individual contributors, for an average contribution of less than $35, according to the Commerce City state lawmaker's campaign. More than 99% of contributions were under $100, a campaign spokeswoman added.”
-
“Democratic congressional candidate Manny Rutinel raised more than $500,000 in the 48 hours after he launched his bid to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado's battleground 8th Congressional District, the state lawmaker's campaign said.”
-
“I am honored to declare my candidacy for Congress to serve the diverse and hardworking communities of Colorado’s 8th District,” Rutinel said in a press release. “I have seen firsthand how rising housing and health care costs, along with limited job opportunities, are hurting our community. Together, we can address the pressing issues facing our district and ensure a prosperous future for all residents.”
-
“As a state representative, I’ve delivered results for Colorado families,” Rutinel posted on X. “In Congress, I’ll fight to make sure hardworking people get the support they deserve.” Rutinel seeks to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton in the toss-up district, which spans from the northeastern Denver suburbs along U.S. 85 into Greeley.
Press Releases
-
3/18/26
Rutinel Wins in Landslide at County Democratic Assemblies
Rutinel Leads Colleagues on Holding ICE Accountable
Rutinel Continues to Lead in Fundraising; Over $3 Million Raised
U.S. Senator Cory Booker Endorses Rutinel
State Rep. Manny Rutinel’s momentum just keeps growing in the race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, with monumental wins in the Democratic Party assembly process, leadership on holding ICE accountable, new endorsements, and continued strong fundraising cementing his position atop the Democratic primary field and preparing a strong campaign to take on Gabe Evans.
Rutinel Overwhelmingly Wins County Democratic Assemblies; Opponents Drop Out
Rutinel earned 83% of the vote at the Larimer County Democratic Assembly; the first in-district county to hold their assembly, leading Shannon Bird to drop out of the Democratic Party assembly process before the other two counties in the district held their assemblies.
Over 90% of delegates at the Adams County and Weld County Assemblies then voted to support Rutinel.
In every recent election, every Colorado Democrat to win at Assembly and lead in fundraising has won their primary (for statewide or Congressional office).
Our campaign’s grassroots strength isn’t new. Over 100 volunteers joined Rutinel’s first canvass launch in January, and over 1,000 volunteers have joined the team in total.
Rutinel Leads on ICE, Labor Accountability
Rutinel led over 30 legislative colleagues in calling for oversight into previously secret ICE facilities that violated even ICE’s own rules for detention. Rutinel visited the facility in Frederick, CO in an attempt to conduct oversight directly; driving coverage of the issue (FOX31 KDVR Denver; Colorado Times Recorder; CTR; La Opinión).
This leadership on ICE and advantage in grassroots support comes after Rutinel’s primary opponent, Shannon Bird, was the only Democrat to vote against limiting cooperation with ICE in Colorado and against keeping ICE out of Colorado schools and hospitals.
Rutinel also stood with UFCW 7 members on strike against JBS in Greeley calling for higher wages and better conditions (Greeley Tribune; Denver Post)
Manny Rutinel Maintains Fundraising Lead
Rutinel has raised over $3 million for his campaign as of late February, compared to just $1.2 million for his closest Democratic opponent as of the most recent filing.
Over 58,000 grassroots donors have supported Rutinel’s campaign.
Manny Rutinel Grows Endorsement List
Yesterday, Rutinel announced the endorsement of US Sen. Cory Booker: the first sitting U.S. Senator to endorse in this primary
Rutinel also recently added the support of Rocky Mountain Equality Action Fund.
Rutinel has also earned endorsements from CHC BOLD PAC, 314 Action, Latino Victory Fund, former U.S. Senators Ken Salazar and Gary Hart, U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat, Emily Randall, Robert Garcia, and Rob Menendez, and over 100 elected leaders.
-
3/18/26
Tommy Butler, Deb DeBoutez Endorse State Representative Manny Rutinel in Race for CO-08
GREELEY, COLO. — February 18, 2026 — State Representative Manny Rutinel (D-Commerce City) announced today that Greeley City Councilmembers Tommy Butler and Deb DeBoutez have endorsed his campaign for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.
Having worked in Greeley city government for over a decade and now on City Council, I know how important it is for our city to have strong partners at all levels of government. I’m proud to endorse State Representative Manny Rutinel for Congress because of his track record on education, infrastructure, affordability, and safety that impact us all and his continued commitment to strong engagement with local government, said Deb DeBoutez, Greeley City Councilmember.
Colorado has become too expensive for working people. On the Greeley City Council, I’ve fought to make housing more affordable, and Manny Rutinel is the champion of affordability Greeley needs on the federal level. Manny grew up working class, flipping McDonalds burgers to help make ends meet, and he has fought hard to pass bills to lower costs at the State House. I’m endorsing him for Congress because that’s the perspective and leadership we need right now, said Tommy Butler, Greeley City Councilmember and HD 50 candidate. -
3/6/26
FREDERICK, COLO. — Yesterday evening, State Representative and CO-08 congressional candidate Manny Rutinel visited the ICE “hold room” facility in Frederick, Colorado, one of at least nine previously undisclosed detention sites federal data shows have been quietly operating across the state. More than 3,000 people have been held in these facilities, including children as young as one year old, in some cases for weeks at a time, all in violation of ICE's own rules.
Rutinel made the visit to shed light on these dark facilities. ICE officials refused to answer the door when he visited.
“Clearly, these are secretive facilities that ICE doesn’t want the public to know about, operating outside of ICE’s own guidelines, so we're going to do our part to put the pressure on our Congressional members to investigate and to subpoena where necessary to find out why these facilities are here. Gabe Evans has failed to do that, and Coloradans deserve better,” stated Rutinel.
The visit follows a letter from State Rep. Rutinel’s office, cosigned by 31 legislative colleagues and reshared by over 1000 grassroots supporters, which also called for transparency and oversight into these secret ICE detention facilities.
Raw video of the visit is available upon request.
-
2/27/26
Rutinel Raises Over $3 Million Total and Over $500,000 so far in Q1
Former Interior Secretary, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Endorses Rutinel Former CO-08 Candidate Baca-Oehlert adds to Endorsement List
Grassroots Base Includes Hundreds of Volunteers
Manny Rutinel continues to hold the momentum in the race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, with surging fundraising numbers, endorsements, and grassroots support, positioning him atop the Democratic primary field and preparing a strong campaign to take on Gabe Evans.
Manny Rutinel Accelerates Fundraising Lead
Rutinel has raised over $3 million for his campaign, compared to just $1.2 million for his closest Democratic opponent as of the most recent filing
Today, Rutinel announced raising over $500,000 in the first 56 days of the first quarter - already outpacing his last three quarters with over a month to go
Over 55,000 grassroots donors have supported Rutinel’s campaign
Over 99% of donations are for $200 or less
Rutinel is the only legislator in the race who’s never taken corporate PAC money
While Rutinel Leads on Immigration, Opponents Support Working With ICE
Rutinel cosponsored legislation to limit cooperation with ICE in Colorado and keep ICE out of Colorado schools and clinics; his primary opponent, Shannon Bird, was the only Democrat to vote against limiting cooperation with ICE in Colorado
Manny Rutinel Grows Endorsement List
Last month, Rutinel announced the endorsement of Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Senator from Colorado
This week, former Colorado Education Association President and former CO-08 candidate Amie Baca-Oehlert endorsed Rutinel, citing his cosponsorship of a bill to limit ICE operations in Colorado, and that his main primary opponent sided with Republicans to oppose that bill to protect immigrants from ICE brutality
Rutinel has also earned endorsements from CHC BOLD PAC, 314 Action, Latino Victory Fund, and U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat, Emily Randall, Robert Garcia, and Rob Menendez
Groundswell of Grassroots Support for Rutinel
Over 100 volunteers joined Rutinel’s petition launch - an extraordinary number for a Congressional primary campaign
Over 1000 volunteers total have signed up to join the team
Hundreds of new supporters have met Rutinel at a series of meet-and-greets across the district
-
1/5/26
Rutinel Raises Over $425,000 in Q4; Over $1.2 Million Cash on Hand
COMMERCE CITY, COLO. — January 5, 2026 — State Representative Manny Rutinel (D-Commerce City) announced today that his campaign has raised over $2.5 million from over 44,000 individual donors so far in the race to defeat Congressman Gabe Evans in pivotal CO-08. This total includes over $425,000 raised in the fourth quarter from tens of thousands of grassroots donors who gave an average of just $23 each. Rutinel ended the year with over $1.2 million on hand.
This fundraising success follows recent polling showing Rutinel polling 4 percentage points closer to Rep. Gabe Evans in a general election matchup compared to his closest Democratic primary opponent (Bird trails Evans 43%-48%, while Rutinel is statistically tied with Evans, 46%-47%).
“This grassroots momentum – over 40,000 people pitching in an average of $23 – shows that Coloradans are ready for a new kind of leadership,” said Rutinel. “Teachers, nurses, and small-business owners are powering this campaign because they know Congress should work for the families who clock in every day, not for billionaires.”
Manny’s campaign is fueled by small-dollar contributions from everyday people looking for fresh leadership. Over 99% of donations have been under $100, demonstrating the broad coalition of support that will be necessary to win this seat in November 2026.
Manny Rutinel’s Total Fundraising, By The Numbers:
Over $2.5 million raised
Over 44,000 unique donors
$23 average contribution
Zero dollars from corporate PACs
-
-
-
-