Rutinel, a Colorado state representative, said in an interview that he wants to lower costs for working families and strengthen protections against conflicts of interest in Washington. He supports barring members of Congress from trading stocks, creating term limits and prohibiting corporate donations to politicians. He said his campaign has not accepted corporate political action committee money, while alleging Evans has received such donations. Evans was not made available for the interview despite multiple requests.

The 8th District was drawn as a competitive seat and has changed parties in its short history: Democrat Yadira Caraveo won in 2022, then Evans took the seat in 2024. Both won with less than half the vote, according to the interview. National Republicans and Democrats view the district as important to their efforts to win control of the House.

Rutinel also expressed confidence in Colorado’s election administration as the U.S. Department of Justice seeks to send election monitors to Adams County on Election Day. The department said the proposed monitoring is intended to assist the county’s Spanish-speaking population, which accounts for about 40% of voters there. Colorado’s secretary of state’s office said it was reviewing the request.

Rutinel said he trusts the secretary of state and Adams County clerk to conduct the election fairly. He voiced concern that President Donald Trump could intimidate voters, but offered no specific evidence of interference in the race. He predicted voters would respond at the ballot box.

The district includes urban communities as well as rural areas in Weld County and is about 40% Latino, Rutinel said. He argued that residents across the district are concerned about grocery, health care and fuel costs. He blamed federal tariff policies and cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act for rising household expenses; those were campaign claims, not independently established in the interview.

Rutinel cited his upbringing as the son of an immigrant single mother and said his family relied at times on Medicaid and food assistance. He said he served nearly two terms in the Colorado House representing Commerce City and co-sponsored more than 400 laws. He described himself as a supporter of fair markets and a strong social safety net, rejecting his opponent’s characterization of him as a socialist.

To appeal to rural voters, Rutinel pointed to his support for a state right-to-repair law for farm equipment and legislation addressing foreign ownership of U.S. land. He said he has backed farmers, ranchers and workers, and cited endorsements from labor and agricultural organizations. The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union endorsed Evans, according to the interview, amid disagreement over Rutinel’s statements about the farming and ranching industries.

Rutinel said he has held town halls and community events across the district and participated in a forum with Evans in Berthoud. He said that, if elected, he would seek a congressional committee assignment where his economics background could help address affordability, but did not name a specific committee.

Colorado’s general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. The outcome in the 8th District is expected to be closely watched as both parties compete for House control.