U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, Colorado District 8
Represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which writes federal laws, approves the federal budget and taxes, and oversees the executive branch.
2-year term. Colorado did not redraw its congressional map for 2026; the 2021 map remains in use. The district covers parts of Adams County, southern Weld County north through Greeley, and part of Larimer County including Berthoud, with cities such as Thornton, Commerce City, Brighton, Northglenn and Greeley.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Gabe Evans
U.S. Representative, Colorado District 8 (since 2025)Gabe Evans is a first-term Republican congressman, a former Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot and a former Arvada police officer who served one term in the Colorado House. His campaign focuses on border security, public safety and the cost of living.
Manny Rutinel
Former Colorado State Representative, District 32 (2023–2026)Manny Rutinel is an attorney and former Democratic state representative from Adams County who resigned his legislative seat in September 2026 to focus on his congressional campaign. His campaign centers on lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and ethics rules for Congress.
Dave Wood
Retired internet marketing professional and musicianDave Wood is a retired internet marketing professional and musician running on the Libertarian Party ticket. His campaign calls for less federal government, lower taxes and no new foreign wars.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Gabe Evans Republican | Manny Rutinel Democratic | Dave Wood Libertarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Care | Says Americans should have access to coverage that includes pre-existing conditions and supports price transparency, plan portability and market competition to lower costs. | Supports expanding Medicare drug price negotiation, a $35 monthly insulin cap and limits on surprise billing, and opposes Medicaid and ACA cuts. | No public position found yet |
| Immigration | Says his priorities are to secure the physical border, streamline legal immigration, and deport immigrants in the country illegally who commit crimes. | Supports requiring ICE agents to use body cameras and judicial orders and not wear masks, prioritizing deportation of violent criminals, and a path to citizenship for long-term residents and DREAMers. | No public position found yet |
| Social Security & Medicare | No public position found yet | Opposes cutting benefits or raising the retirement age and opposes Social Security staffing and field office cuts. | Says people with high incomes should pay their own way on Medicare. |
| Abortion | No public position found yet | Supports abortion rights, saying politicians have no place in a private medical decision. | No public position found yet |
| Economy & Jobs | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Supports relying on local charities rather than Washington. |
| Elections & Democracy | No public position found yet | Supports banning stock trading by members of Congress and overturning Citizens United, and says he takes no corporate PAC money. | No public position found yet |
| Energy & Environment | Sponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require large data centers to pay for the grid upgrades and new power needed to serve them; it passed the House 417–3. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Foreign Policy | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Opposes more foreign wars. |
| Infrastructure | Introduced the Greeley Land Exchange Act to give the city of Greeley direct ownership of land next to its Milton Seaman Reservoir to maintain its water system. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Public Safety | Sponsored the Stop Pills That Kill Act, which would amend federal drug law to address counterfeit fentanyl and methamphetamine pills and require a DEA plan to combat them; it passed the House. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Taxes | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Says people need to keep more of their income. |