FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 24, 2026
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NEW in Cook Political: Manny Rutinel is National Republicans’ Favorite Democrat
In case you missed it, today’s piece in the Cook Political Report confirms a tranche of earlier reporting: National Republicans are eager to run against Manny Rutinel, because they believe he is easily beatable and will help them hold on to their House majority:
“[Rutinel’s] strident criticism against the meat and dairy industries as a student activist and environmental attorney gives Republicans a strong line of attack against him in the general election…Particularly since there’s concern within the national [Democratic] party about Rutinel’s viability in a general election.”
No other congressional candidate in the country – Democrat or Republican – has been namechecked so many times as the preferred candidate of the opposing party.
Previous reporting:
“At a time when costs are sky-high and our democracy is under attack, the very people taking a sledgehammer to everything we hold dear have selected Manny Rutinel as their preferred opponent. They know his voting record and career as a professional vegan who wants to tax meat, dairy, and eggs will lead to a second Gabe Evans term,” said Eve Zhurbinskiy, campaign manager, Shannon Bird for Congress. “The choice in this primary is simple: it’s Shannon Bird, or it’s two more years of the Trump-Gabe Evans agenda.”
About Shannon Bird
Shannon was raised by a single mom and her grandmother, who dealt blackjack and used her tips to help Shannon get through college. They taught her how to work hard, give back and fight for what’s right.
With a passion for improving education for every student, Shannon started in public service by volunteering in her kids’ classrooms and co-founded an organization that empowers students, parents, teachers, and communities to create more equitable local schools. She led a bond measure campaign for the Adams 12 district in 2014 to fix and improve local schools, leading to her serving on the Westminster City Council and then in the Colorado State House, where she served for three years on the Joint Budget Committee.
Prior to serving in public office, Shannon worked in the private sector, practicing law in the fields of public and commercial finance, helping to get large community projects like roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals off the ground.
Shannon is committed to showing up for the people of Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, and working together to deliver real results for hardworking Coloradans and families – because that’s what she’s always done. Her campaign has earned the endorsement of over 185 leaders in the district and across Colorado, as well as the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association, Plumbers Local Union 3, ATU & ATU Local 1001, Heat & Frost Insulators Local 28, NALC Branch 642, SMART Locals 9 and 202, Pipefitters Local 208, Machinists Local 47, Farmers Union Rural PAC, Elect Democratic Women, EMILYs List, Welcome PAC, The Bench, and NewDem Action Fund.
For more, visit ShannonBird.com and follow her on X, Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
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