Key facts
- Manny Rutinel won the Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th congressional district.
- Rutinel defeated Shannon Bird, a former state representative.
- Rutinel's campaign received over $2 million in donations from tech-funded political groups.
- Donations came from committees led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and crypto billionaire Chris Larsen.
- Employees from major tech firms like Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta also contributed.
Political groups funded by top tech executives have heavily invested in Colorado's eighth congressional district Democratic primary, making it one of the state's most expensive races. Progressive candidate Manny Rutinel secured a victory, benefiting from at least $2 million in donations from committees led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and crypto billionaire Chris Larsen. Rutinel's platform, which includes supporting AI regulation, contrasted with his opponent, former state representative Shannon Bird, who opposed such measures. Significant financial backing for Rutinel came from Super PACs like Somos Pac and You Can Push Back, alongside over $265,000 from individual employees at major tech firms, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta. This race exemplifies a broader trend of tech money influencing political contests, particularly concerning stances on AI policy. Manny Rutinel won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday to challenge Republican U.S. Representative Gabe Evans in a battleground district that Democrats consider a top pickup opportunity. Rutinel, a progressive candidate, defeated moderate former state Representative Shannon Bird in a campaign that focused heavily on immigration. The district in Denver's northern suburbs and nearby rural area is nearly 40% Latino. Democrats need to net three seats to win control of the House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections. Evans narrowly won his seat in 2024 but has a significant cash advantage over Rutinel, reporting $3.4 million on hand to Rutinel’s $910,000.