NEWS 10/08/2026
Manny Rutinel’s campaign website then and now
Plus: A conversation with Nancy Pelosi. Bob Chew doubles down. Who’s on TV. Colorado Sun ballot guide.
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State Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City, campaigns for Congress at a taco truck in Thornton where he sampled some of the product — specifically carne asada — on Aug. 26. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)
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Between running for reelection to the statehouse in 2024 and his current bid to represent the 8th Congressional District, former state Rep. Manny Rutinel removed references on his campaign website to his work as a lawyer for the liberal environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, as well as a vow to confront “systemic racism.”
Rutinel’s campaign website then and now share the same basic layout and list many of the same biographical details and policy priorities. But a Colorado Sun analysis of versions of Rutinel’s current and former campaign websites using the Internet Archive, which lets users access old versions of web pages, showed that the newer version of Rutinel’s site either removed, or toned down, references to some of his most progressive beliefs and parts of his background.
“After law school, I became an environmental attorney with Earthjustice, where I worked on cases against large corporations that are making profits by destroying our air, water and land,” Rutinel said on the “meet me” page of his website in June 2024.
Now, the meet me page reads this way: “After law school, I became an attorney who defended our communities against large corporations breaking the law.”
Rutinel’s priorities page used to include a section on civil rights priorities where he said he was “committed to confronting systemic racism and advocating for policies that promote racial equity in education, healthcare, housing, employment, and the criminal justice system.”
Now, the page says he will work to “ensure all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.”
Among the other things removed from Rutinel’s campaign website over the past two years are references to himself as a “longtime environmental activist” and the priorities of “gun safety” and “protecting nature and animals.”
The revelations about the changes to Rutinel’s campaign website come as the candidate has faced criticism from his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, as well as some on the left for his past statements and actions, as well as changing views, on everything from veganism to healthcare to oil and gas.
Rutinel’s campaign said the website changes were routine as part of a shift to running for federal office from the statehouse and that Rutinel stands by the language that used to be on his site.
“Manny’s values have not changed,” said Alex Terr, a spokesperson for Rutinel. “Not everything in a past, state-level campaign matches the priorities of a current, federal race. As reflected on his website, Manny is running for Congress to lower costs, fight for working families and stop corruption.”
Rutinel’s campaign highlighted how he has been endorsed by groups pushing for tighter gun regulations, as well as leading environmental organizations.
The campaign said Rutinel also remains committed to protecting civil rights and, as his current website says, he will work to make sure “everyone, regardless of race, sex, age, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or gender identity, is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” including in “education, healthcare, housing, employment, and the criminal justice system.”
WHAT’S ON EVANS’ WEBSITE
Rutinel isn’t the first candidate running in the 8th District to change their website amid a run for the toss-up seat.
In 2022, Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer faced criticism for removing references to her anti-abortion position and other conservative bonafides from her campaign website while running unsuccessfully against Democrat Yadira Caraveo, whom Evans unseated in 2024.
While Evans’ website has remained mostly consistent between his 2024 and 2026 congressional bids — though his more detailed policy plans have been shortened — Rutinel’s campaign highlighted how the congressman has not always adhered to his online pledges.
For instance, Evans vowed to reduce the federal deficit (it has risen while he’s been in Congress) and lower the cost of living (which has risen since 2024).
“Reducing, and eventually eliminating, the budget deficit is critical to long-term prosperity,” Evans’ 2024 campaign website said.
In 2025, the congressman voted for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which nonpartisan congressional analysts expect to increase the federal deficit by more than $3 trillion in its first decade.
The deficit pledge isn’t on Evans’ 2026 campaign website, though it’s now on his congressional site.
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WHAT TO WATCH IN THE WEEK AHEAD
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- The legislature’s Joint Technology Committee meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Capitol.
- State candidates and committees must report their fundraising and spending between Sept. 17 and Sept. 30 on Tuesday.
- The state’s Commission on Medicaid meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Capitol.
- Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans will debate former state Rep. Manny Rutinel, a Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Grace Place Auditorium in Berthoud. The face-off, the only one scheduled between the candidates before Election Day, is hosted by The Berthoud Surveyor, a weekly newspaper.
- Colorado Sun elections editor Jesse Paul will interview Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, the Democratic nominee for governor, live, in-person at the Buell Public Media Center in downtown Denver at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Find details and register to attend here.
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4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
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Judge keeps Lauren Boebert’s restraining order against liberal sleuth in place
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A Weld County judge on Thursday kept a temporary restraining order filed by Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert against a liberal sleuth and activist in place until after Election Day.
Boebert sought and received the restraining order against David Wheeler, who recently accused her, without evidence, of having sexual relationships with top staffers. Boebert has forcefully denied the claims.
Wheeler is fighting the restraining order under Colorado’s so-called anti-SLAPP, or anti strategic lawsuit against public participation, law. But Weld County Judge Dana Nichols ordered that the order remain in place until she can hear arguments on the anti-SLAPP motion on Nov. 16.
Nichols said Wheeler, who describes himself as a journalist but runs a political operation targeting Republicans, could continue reporting on Boebert but was barred from interacting with her or being physically near her, which Wheeler’s attorneys said he’d adhere to. (Wheeler, who lives in North Carolina, appeared in court virtually Thursday and his legal team said he has no plans to travel to Colorado.)
Wheeler’s lawyers also said Wheeler would refrain from tagging Boebert on social media, which Boebert’s attorney, former Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler, alleges he has done recently in violation of the protection order.
Gessler asked to depose Wheeler and seek discovery in the case, which Nichols said likely wasn’t possible as part of the temporary restraining order proceedings.
“If this was a defamation suit, then it would be a wholly different category,” Nichols said. “And that may be the way it’s more appropriate for you guys to proceed.”
Boebert hasn’t given any indication she plans to sue Wheeler for defamation.
Nichols also said any alleged violation of the order would have to be pursued through law enforcement as a criminal matter.
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THE NARRATIVE
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Nancy Pelosi on Diana DeGette, CD8 and congressional age limits
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U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks at Crowfest, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow’s annual campaign fundraiser on Sept. 26 at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton. (Justin George, The Colorado Sun)
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Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton on Saturday for the fifth annual Crowfest gathering and fundraiser for Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow of Aurora, who is seeking reelection in the 6th Congressional District.
The event raised more than $250,000 and drew more than 800 people, including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Jefferson County Commissioner and lieutenant governor nominee Lesley Dahlkemper; and former state Rep. Manny Rutinel, who is trying to unseat Republican Gabe Evans in the ultra-competitive 8th Congressional District.
In an interview with The Unaffiliated before she took the stage at the fundraiser, Pelosi, 86, spoke about the growing influence of democratic socialists within her party, why U.S. representatives have a better pulse on the country than other elected officials and how Crow, a former Army Ranger, saw his standing rise in Congress after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.
The Unaffiliated: Melat Kiros just beat a nearly 30-year incumbent in U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette during the primary election while running as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. What does her win tell you about where the Democratic Party is headed?
Nancy Pelosi: That tells me the Democratic Party is as beautifully diverse as it’s always been. It’s a big tent. With all the respect in the world for Diana DeGette — I spoke at her going-away party a couple of Wednesdays ago, she’s wonderful — the people have spoken.
Unaffiliated: You’ve worked many years with Diana DeGette. What was your reaction to her loss, and what do you think of the voter disenchantment that appears to exist toward veteran lawmakers?
Pelosi: There’s nothing new about this. We had what they called the Watergate babies in the 1970s — they all came in and made a lot of change. It is a loss to the district because of the seniority, the talent, the know-how. Diana DeGette had won a case before the Supreme Court. (Editor’s note: As a state representative in 1993, DeGette authored a “bubble bill” protecting access to abortion clinics that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld under challenge.) This is a very talented person. But the district has decided to move on, from a generational standpoint and a time-in-office standpoint. The House of Representatives is a very special place. In this 250th-anniversary year, the founders had a special place in their heart for this House because we represent districts proportionally. The Senate wasn’t directly elected until later.
Unaffiliated: So you feel House members are more immediately connected to what’s going on politically in a region, whereas the Senate has more of an overarching view?
Pelosi: Yes, I do. That’s our role — we represent fewer people, so we’re closer to them.
Unaffiliated: Being an experienced lawmaker yourself, do you support age limits for federal office given the health and age questions that surrounded U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and then-President Joe Biden?
Pelosi: No, I don’t. I’ll tell you why: if you want to embolden lobbyists, term limits do it. They will just wait around, knowing “he’ll be gone pretty soon.” The reason people have the ability to stay in office is because it’s up to their constituents to decide. It’s not about entrenching lobbyists.
I don’t mind the idea of the Supreme Court being term-limited, though. Look — the president gets four years, the Senate gets six, and we get two, but we have to run every two years. That’s not a small feat. So we are, in effect, term-limited, because we have to keep running. Supreme Court justices get anointed for life — some very young.
The Unaffiliated: I wanted to ask about the 8th Congressional District, a race of national importance between Gabe Evans and Manny Rutinel. How do you look at that race, and what’s one piece of advice you’d give Rutinel?
Pelosi: Same advice I give everybody: Be yourself. Be authentic. I tell that to everyone who wants to run or is running — there’s nobody else like you in the history of the world. People want to see sincerity and authenticity. You can respect other people’s talent, but be you. Be ready for the job. Know your “why’”— know why you’re coming to Congress. Poor Jason has heard me say this so many times. If you know your “why,” you can handle it, because this is not for the faint of heart — it’s rough and tumble to run. My “why” was being 1 of 6 children in America who went to bed hungry at night. Imagine that, in the greatest country that ever existed. So when people come at you, you don’t care about them — you care about the children, or the environment, or the law, or whatever your mission is.
The Unaffiliated: I wanted to ask about Jason Crow and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse — two Democratic rising stars who seem to be looking at national roles. What do you see in each of them, and what would you like to see from their careers?
Pelosi: They’re both superstars in the Congress, recognized as such, and they’ve each taken their own path in terms of legislation. I wish people at Crowfest could have seen when Crow and I went together as some of the first people into Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. (Editor’s note: a congressional delegation, led by Pelosi, made an unannounced visit to Kyiv in late April 2022.) Jason came representing the Armed Services and Intelligence committees. To see him talk with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — it gave Zelenskyy such comfort that someone understood. The rest of us had our concerns about Russia, but in terms of what Ukraine’s needs were, that connection made the whole trip worthwhile.
Then we crossed over into Poland, and I got to see the people who had served with Jason as a paratrooper, including his former captain. He walked in, and it was wonderful. They were thrilled to see one of their own now sitting at the table with the president of Ukraine, (just about two months) after Russia’s invasion began.
And then there’s Jan. 6th. Members looked to him that day. It was scary — people were afraid. He told them how to stay safe: Take off your pins so no one knows you’re a member, crawl on your belly if you need to. All the things that saved them. It formed a bond among members that is eternal — they still talk about it.
Joe Neguse is lovely and wonderful, too. I was with him around the time he had his baby. He brings a bit of fresh air from Colorado to Congress as well. Colorado is very well served by two highly respected leaders in Congress.
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Want to reach Colorado political influencers and support quality local journalism? The Sun can help get your message attention through a sponsorship of The Unaffiliated, the must-read politics and policy newsletter in Colorado. Contact Sylvia Harmon at underwriting@coloradosun.com for more information.
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THE POLITICAL TICKER
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U.S. SENATE
Bob Chew, the Forward Party candidate for U.S. Senate, is doubling down on his self-funded, longshot bid to unseat Democratic incumbent John Hickenlooper this year.
Chew announced this week that he’s spent an additional $1.5 million on digital, TV and radio ads, bringing the total of his self-funded ad campaign to $3 million.
A spokesman for Chew said the candidate has spent about $3.5 million of his own money on the race so far. That’s more than the $2 million Chew told The Unaffiliated he planned to spend on his campaign.
WHO IS GOING ON TV
Federal Communications Commission filings show some new groups have entered the TV ad spending fray in Colorado.
- No Pollution in the Constitution, which is fighting a ballot measure to place a right to natural gas in the state constitution, is buying airtime
- The Safety and Affordability PAC, a federal group tied to President Donald Trump, is buying up air time across the state in what’s likely a defensive play for Colorado’s Republican members of Congress
- All Together Colorado, a group supporting Democratic candidates for state Senate, is buying ad time in the Colorado Springs/Pueblo TV market
- The Senate Majority Fund, which supports Republican candidates for state Senate, is also buying TV ad time in southern Colorado
- Don’t Price Us Out, which is opposing Proposition NN, Amendment 87 and Ballot Issue 7A, is reserving TV ad time
- CHC Bold PAC, a Democratic group that’s endorsed former state Rep. Manny Rutinel, is buying TV ad time in the Denver media market
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Quarterly campaign finance reports for congressional candidates and committees aren’t due until Oct. 15, but candidates are starting to release their fundraising numbers in July, August and September early.
Democrat Jessica Killin, who is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th Congressional District, says she raised $2.1 million during the quarter. Democrat Eileen Laubacher, who is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, says she raised $2.6 million during the quarter.
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ELECTION 2026
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The Colorado Sun’s ballot guide
The election is in full swing, which means we’re rolling out our 2026 ballot guide.
Here are the stories we’ve published thus far, with more to come:
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
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