Denver, Colorado: Manny Rutinel Unseats Gabe Evans in 8th District Flip

DENVER (Orbit Post) Democrat Manny Rutinel unseated Republican Rep. Gabe Evans on Tuesday night in Colorado's 8th Congressional District, flipping one of the most closely watched House seats in the country by a margin no one in the district had seen before.

The Associated Press called the race for Rutinel at 9:49 p.m., when he led Evans 56 percent to 41 percent, with Libertarian Dave Wood at 4 percent, according to Rocky Mountain PBS and the Colorado Sun. In the later Associated Press count, Rutinel had 124,016 votes to 91,089 for Evans, with 535 of 686 precincts reporting. Evans, who was seeking a second term, did not concede.

"Tonight, Colorado showed that in America, the son of a single mom who relied on Medicaid and food stamps can go on to serve in Congress," Rutinel said in a written statement. "To everyone who voted for Congressman Evans: I will be your congressman as much as anyone's."

In Commerce City, Rutinel told supporters the win was an honor and a responsibility. Evans spoke to his own supporters in Brighton at about 9 p.m. and refused to concede. "We are going to fight till the very end, until every single vote is counted," he said. "We know there's some ground to make up."

A district built to flip

The 8th District covers the fast-growing north Denver suburbs and stretches into Weld County and Greeley, according to Colorado Public Radio. It has the largest Hispanic or Latino population of any congressional district in Colorado, and it has changed parties in every election since it was created in 2021. Democrat Yadira Caraveo won it by less than a percentage point in 2022, and Evans beat her by less than a percentage point in 2024. Both races were decided by about 2,500 votes, and neither was settled on election night.

This one was. Tuesday's race was the first in the district's history to be called on election night, the Colorado Sun reported. More than $41 million was spent on the race by the campaigns, the parties and outside groups, according to Colorado Public Radio.

What the campaign was about

Rutinel is a former state lawmaker and attorney who lives in Commerce City. He campaigned on affordability and on serving as a check on the Trump administration, and he attacked Evans for supporting Medicaid and SNAP cuts and for not voting against tariff policies or the war with Iran, Colorado Public Radio reported. Evans, a former state lawmaker, police officer and Army helicopter pilot who lives in Fort Lupton, called the race common sense versus crazy and tied Rutinel to democratic socialist policies. Rutinel is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Results remain unofficial until county canvass boards certify them. Nov. 12 is the deadline for military and overseas ballots to arrive and for voters to cure a missing or mismatched signature, according to Rocky Mountain Voice.