Rutinel Targets Bird Over 2025 ICE Vote in Colorado 8th Primary
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 28
Rutinel Targets Bird Over 2025 ICE Vote in Colorado 8th Primary
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 28
Summary
Colorado’s 8th District primary has turned into a test of whether Democratic anger over ICE can decide a top 2026 House battleground before Tuesday’s vote.
Rutinel has made Bird’s 2025 committee vote against advancing a bill limiting state and local cooperation with ICE the centerpiece of attack ads worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Bird says she opposed the measure because it could fine employees for bosses’ cooperation with ICE, and calls Rutinel’s claims that she enabled raids at schools and hospitals fabricated.
40% Latino Colorado 8th has kept immigration unusually salient even as national Latino concern eased after February, giving the clash added weight in a district Democrats hope to flip from Rep. Gabe Evans.
Democrats see the race as an early signal for 2026 messaging on immigration, with the winner expected to face Evans in a close general election shaped by both deportation politics and living costs.