Colorado 8th District

Gabe Evans (R) holds this seat and is running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.

• 

  Gabe Evans

  Republican · holds this seat today

  A-

  Liberty Score A-

  On the liberty side in 41 of 44 votes and bills.

  Raised $7,248,106 since January 2025: 45% from people, 30% transfers and other income, 25% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

  Every vote behind this grade
• 

  Manny Rutinel

  Democrat · state representative, environmental attorney, Commerce City

  F

  Liberty Score F

  38 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Rutinel has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Rutinel.

  Raised $9,459,070 since January 2025: 87% from people, 8% transfers and other income, 5% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

  See each one, with its source

Higher on Liberty Score: Gabe Evans. Gabe Evans: A-, 91 out of 100 from recorded votes. Manny Rutinel: F, 38 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.

Voting in Colorado: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.

Side by side

A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.

Manny Rutinel, on the record

I have no votes in Congress to count for Rutinel, so the grade above comes from this list: what Rutinel has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.

• May 28, 2026 · InterviewTyranny

  Asked about the US war with the Islamic Republic, he called the war a disaster and blamed Trump for drawing the country into it.

  “it's a disaster that Trump has drawn the United States into another forever war without any plans, and they're putting Americans at risk and raising prices on all of us”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  Condemning US military action against the regime in Iran is against liberty on tyranny.

  Source: The Colorado Sun, Where Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel stand on the issues in Colorado's 8th Congressional District primaryDiscuss this
• May 28, 2026 · InterviewFree nations

  Asked by The Colorado Sun whether he supports continued US military funding for Israel, he answered yes and spoke of peace and a two-state solution.

  “I think that we need to make sure that we're pursuing peace and allowing the U.S. to play a role in that, so that we promote stability and de-escalation, and I think we need secure borders and a two-state solution”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Backing continued military funding for Israel, with no condition named, is with liberty on free nations.

  Source: The Colorado Sun, Where Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel stand on the issues in Colorado's 8th Congressional District primaryDiscuss this
• May 28, 2026 · InterviewFree markets

  Asked whether he would continue the 2025 tax cuts, he said the tax system should make the wealthy pay their fair share.

  “What we need to do is we make a tax system that makes it so that the wealthy pay their fair share”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  Calling for the wealthy to pay more through the tax system is the higher-taxes against side of the free markets test.

  Source: The Colorado Sun, Where Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel stand on the issues in Colorado's 8th Congressional District primaryDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteFree markets

  His campaign site says tariffs raise the price of groceries and housing.

  “Trump's tariffs drive up the cost of everyday goods like groceries and housing.”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.

  Source: Manny for Colorado, IssuesDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteBorders

  His campaign site calls for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been here the longest and for Dreamers.

  “we should provide a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who have been here the longest and groups like Dreamers”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty on borders.

  Source: Manny for Colorado, IssuesDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteBorders

  His campaign site says he cosponsored a Colorado law to limit state law enforcement support for ICE.

  “I am the only candidate in this race who has voted to protect Colorado immigrants from ICE brutality as a cosponsor of Colorado SB25-276”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  Backing a law that limits local cooperation with ICE is the sanctuary-policy against side of the borders test.

  Source: Manny for Colorado, IssuesDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteBorders

  His campaign site says immigration enforcement should focus on deporting violent criminals, gang members and human traffickers.

  “We need an immigration enforcement system that improves public safety and national security by focusing on the deportation of violent criminals, gang members, and human traffickers”

  By the test I use for votes

  ?Not clear either way

  Supporting deportation only of violent offenders does not settle the measure either way, so it is shown and not counted.

  Source: Manny for Colorado, IssuesDiscuss this

Also on the ballot

Dave Wood (Libertarian).

Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.