1-minute voter guide: Democrats battle in much-watched 8th District

State Rep. Manny Rutinel and former state Rep. Shannon Bird can agree on Democratic priorities but their paths to the race are what sets them apart.

Why it matters: Colorado's 8th Congressional District is one of the nation's premier House battlegrounds and a top Democratic pickup opportunity in 2026.

• The winner of the June 30 primary will face Republican Rep. Gabe Evans in a race that could help determine control of the U.S. House.

State of play: Bird, 57, is positioning herself as a pragmatic Democrat who can work across the aisle, as she did in the state Legislature.

• Rutinel, 31, is campaigning as the progressive candidate, even though he is shifting his stance on major issues.
• A third candidate, Evan Munsing, will appear on the ballot even though he suspended his campaign.

Zoom in: Rutinel is a state representative from Commerce City who has highlighted his working-class upbringing — he talks about being the son of an immigrant mother — and his prior work as an attorney pushing environmental issues.

• Bird is a former state representative from Westminster who emphasizes being raised by a single mother and that she's the first in her family to go to college and law school. Her position on the Legislature's budget committee made her one of the most prominent and effective lawmakers.

The intrigue: The race is one of the most negative this election cycle with both camps trading misleading attacks.

• Rutinel is attacking Bird for a vote as a state lawmaker against a bill prohibiting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities because of the fines for those who violate the law.
• She now wants to overhaul ICE and make its officers more accountable.

The other side: Rutinel echoes Bird's position on ICE. He also wants to hold agents accountable when they violate civil rights laws and prohibit officers from wearing face masks.