State Representative Manny Rutinel has won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, defeating former State Representative Shannon Bird, according to Decision Desk HQ. Bird served in the Colorado House from 2019 to 2026.

The 8th District, a relatively new seat created after Colorado gained an additional district in the 2020 Census, covers Denver’s northern suburbs and extends north into Greeley. Incumbent Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who currently holds the seat, is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection this year.

While Rutinel and Bird were largely aligned on most issues, immigration became a key point of contention in the primary, where about 40 percent of the district’s population is Latino. Rutinel criticized Bird for a 2025 committee vote against legislation that restricts localities from sharing personal identifying information with federal immigration enforcement officials and limits federal immigration officials’ access to places such as childcare centers and schools.

Bird told The Denver Post earlier this year that she voted against the bill because she wanted to see improvements. She also expressed regret about being absent when the full House voted on the legislation, citing a family medical emergency as the reason for her absence.

Bird, in turn, criticized Rutinel for supporting this year’s state budget, which includes cuts to Medicaid aimed at addressing Colorado’s $1.5 billion shortfall.

The primary victory positions Rutinel to challenge Evans in the general election for this battleground seat.

Sources

  • The Hill
  • The Denver Post (as cited in The Hill)