How a primary could shape the 8th Congressional race
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From left: Yadira Caraveo, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans and state Rep. Manny Rutinel. Photos: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images, and courtesy of Rutinel's campaign
Democrat Yadira Caraveo's challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans for the 8th District seat is making Colorado's most competitive congressional race just a little more complicated.
State of play: The district, stretching from the suburbs north of Denver toward Greeley, is currently considered a toss-up — and pivotal if Democrats want to retake a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Yes, but: Before Caraveo can seek a rematch with Evans, who defeated her in last year's election, she will face a Democratic primary against state Rep. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City, who announced his candidacy in January.
Why it matters: Research suggests a competitive primary can translate to higher voter engagement and turnout in the general election, University of Denver political science assistant professor Phil Chen tells us.
- It will mark the first contested Democratic primary for a district created after the 2020 census; Caraveo ran unopposed in the 2022 and 2024 primaries.
The big picture: The strongest primary candidate will probably be whoever can prove to voters they're both willing and able to rebuke President Trump's policies in Congress.
Context: Caraveo, Rutinel and other possible candidates will be gunning for the nomination of a party whose favorability has sunk statewide since last November.
- Many Democratic voters are frustrated over what they see as an inadequate response to Trump.
What they're saying: Voters want "fighting Democrats" who will stand up to the president, Colorado Working Families Party state director Wynn Howell tells us.
Friction point: "We're a little too early to really know whether the [Democratic] primary will be competitive," Chen adds.
Zoom in: Caraveo, in a statement, said Evans has "already shown that he will always put Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and his MAGA backers in Washington first."
- Rutinel tells us in a statement he's focused on priorities people in his district care about, including protecting Medicaid, making housing more affordable and supporting workers.
The other side: "Democrats officially have a base problem and are in an all-out primary battle to the left," Evans' spokesperson Delanie Bomar said in a statement, adding there's a "messy" primary ahead.
- Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement labeled Caraveo "another out-of-touch liberal" and called Rutinel an "extreme Democrat."
By the numbers: Rutinel has an early fundraising edge, collecting $1.2 million during the year's first quarter, outraising the roughly $811,000 haul by Evans during the same span, per federal record filings.
- Caraveo ended her 2024 campaign with $3,400 in her account.
What we're watching: Whether more Democrats enter the primary contest, something Chen tells us would be unsurprising.