2026 Colorado's 8th Congressional District Election
Compare candidates’ positions, polling, and sourced race updates.
Colorado's 8th Congressional District is a top national battleground and one of the most competitive U.S. House seats in the country, rated a "Toss Up" by Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. The district — created after the 2020 census and covering parts of Adams and Weld counties, including northern Denver suburbs and Greeley — flipped from Democratic control in 2022 (Yadira Caraveo) to Republican in 2024 (Gabe Evans). Incumbent Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, a former police officer and Army veteran, emphasizes border security, immigration enforcement, and fiscal conservatism. Democratic challenger state Rep. Manny Rutinel, an Army Corps of Engineers veteran and Yale Law graduate, focuses on lowering costs, protecting healthcare and Social Security, and opposing the Trump administration. Both candidates are Latino in a district with Colorado's largest Latino population, and the outcome could help determine control of the narrowly divided U.S. House.
Candidates
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Gabe Evans
Gabe Evans is the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for Colorado's 8th Congressional District, first elected in 2024 after defeating Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo. He is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and Arvada police officer who previously served one term in the Colorado House of Representatives. Evans serves on the Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security Committees and focuses on border security, public safety, economic issues, and energy policy.
Manny Rutinel is a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing District 32 since 2023. He is an environmental attorney and first-generation American who focuses on lowering costs, immigration reform, and healthcare. Rutinel won the Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th Congressional District on June 30, 2026, and was subsequently added to the DCCC's 'Red to Blue' program on July 9, 2026, signaling national party support and providing fundraising and organizational resources for his general election campaign against incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans.
Race Forecast
Toss-up
Democratic candidate: 55% modeled win probability with a +2.0 pts estimated margin
Polling
About this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 8/10/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.