June 30 (Reuters) – Colorado State Representative Manny Rutinel won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday to challenge Republican U.S. Representative Gabe Evans in a battleground district that Democrats consider a top pickup opportunity, according to U.S. media projections.
Rutinel, a progressive candidate, defeated moderate former state Representative Shannon Bird in a campaign that focused heavily on immigration. The district in Denver’s northern suburbs and nearby rural area is nearly 40% Latino.
Democrats need to net three seats to win control of the House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections. Redistricting wars have complicated that effort nationally after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional map to help the party hold the House.
Evans narrowly won his seat in 2024 but has a significant cash advantage over Rutinel, reporting $3.4 million on hand to Rutinel’s $910,000.
(Editing by Michael Learmonth, Cynthia Osterman and Stephen Coates)
