Dave Wood (L) – CO-08 House 2026

About

David Wood is the Libertarian Party nominee for Colorado's 8th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Republican incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans and Democrat Manny Rutinel. Born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1944 and raised in Boulder, Wood is a retired computer programmer and software engineer who has run for office as a Libertarian since the 1970s. His campaign emphasizes reducing federal taxes and spending, opposing U.S. military intervention abroad, and returning more decisions to local communities; he was nominated at the Libertarian Party of Colorado's April 2026 convention.

Biography sources 4

Positions on Key Issues

Positions of Dave Wood on key issues
Issue	Stance	Sources
Healthcare	Wood's campaign says the government should stop spending Medicare tax money on people who do not need it and that high-income earners should pay their own way. He also argues Americans should keep more of their income so local charities, which he says know local needs better than Washington, can help people in need.	Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 - Home page
Economy	Wood says the federal government should leave people with more of their earned income by reducing taxes and limiting government spending. His campaign also argues that higher-income people should pay their own way for Medicare rather than receiving benefits funded by taxpayers, and promotes reducing government red tape and spending.	Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 - Home page David Wood (Colorado) - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey
Immigration	In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, Wood said he would stop deporting peaceful, hard-working immigrants and increase the number of immigration judges so immigrants receive timely due process in applying for citizenship.	David Wood (Colorado) - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 — campaign homepage
Foreign Policy	Wood supports ending U.S. overseas deployments and military missions, opposing military intervention abroad and what he describes as endless wars. He favors bringing troops home from the roughly 800 overseas bases, reducing spending on conventional weapons used abroad, and limiting the military budget to defending the United States against attackers and unconventional threats.	David Wood (Colorado) - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Can independent candidates gain traction? Maybe not, but it's not stopping them from trying - CPR News Dave Wood bio - Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8
Local Issues	Wood says communities should retain more of their income so they can support local charities, which he argues understand local needs better than Washington. He also says that when government is needed, the more local the better, and frames his campaign around protecting communities from higher taxes and excessive government control.	Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 - Home page David Wood (Colorado) - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

Review an issue

Healthcare

Wood's campaign says the government should stop spending Medicare tax money on people who do not need it and that high-income earners should pay their own way. He also argues Americans should keep more of their income so local charities, which he says know local needs better than Washington, can help people in need.

Sources:

Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 - Home page

Choose another issue above to review the remaining researched positions.

No public position found: Climate/Energy, Abortion & Reproductive Health, Firearms & Second Amendment, Civil Rights & Equality, Education, Tech & AI, Election Policy

Background

Career History

Software engineer / computer programmer 1990 – 2018

Internet marketing firm (start-up)

Joined a small start-up in 1990 that grew into an international internet marketing firm; retired after 28 years in 2018.

Saxophonist and band member

Various bands, including The Five Satins

Played saxophone in several bands, including The Five Satins, and hosted a weekly dance event called "Dance Free" in Cambridge, Boston, and Boulder.

Owner, TV repair and antenna installation business 1976 – Present

Own business, Colorado

Bought a TV repair shop in Colorado in 1976 and designed and installed antenna systems for new construction and mountain communities.

Candidate for Mayor 1979 – 1979

Town of Superior, Colorado

Ran for mayor of Superior in 1979, receiving about 40% of the vote.

Libertarian nominee for State House 2000 – 2000

Colorado House of Representatives, District 34

Ran as the Libertarian nominee for the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000, according to Politics1's Colorado candidate guide.

Education

University of Colorado Boulder Attended (no degree specified) in null

Berklee College of Music Attended (no degree specified) in null

Top Donors

Wood's campaign is run on a shoestring; he told CPR News in August 2026 he had about $4,000 in donations, far less than the millions raised by Republican Gabe Evans and Democrat Manny Rutinel. FEC candidate and committee searches did not surface a distinct candidate-specific donor profile for Wood in the delivered results, and Ballotpedia reports campaign finance information is not yet available from the FEC.

Sources

Can independent candidates gain traction? Maybe not, but it's not stopping them from trying - CPR News David Wood (Colorado) - Ballotpedia Browse Candidates | FEC Browse Committees | FEC Colorado District 08 – Colorado – Candidates – OpenSecrets

Voting Record

No public legislative voting record found in public sources; no elected or executive office was identified for David Wood in this race's candidate material. His campaign platform emphasizes Libertarian positions, including reducing federal taxes and spending and returning more decisions to local communities and individuals. He has not held a prior legislative seat in the reviewed records.

Sources

View full voting record Dave Wood for Colorado Congressional District 8 2026 Colorado's 8th Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote Libertarian Party To Run Candidate Against Rep. Gabe Evans, Likely Drawing Conservative Votes | Colorado Times Recorder

About this research

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated October 10, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.