A Super PAC founded by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has injected $1 million into Manny Rutinel’s campaign, adding crypto-linked money to one of the most competitive congressional contests in the United States. The group, You Can Push Back, backed Rutinel as Colorado’s 8th Congressional District draws national attention.
$1 million lands in a closely divided district
The report says Rutinel received major financial support from a political action group tied to the crypto sector. Larsen, a prominent figure in the Ripple ecosystem, has a long record of headline-making donations at the intersection of technology and politics. In US elections, a Super PAC can spend unlimited sums independently to support or oppose candidates, but it cannot coordinate directly with their campaigns.
That structure matters here. Colorado’s 8th District is viewed as one of the fiercest battlegrounds of the cycle, so outside money is being watched closely.
Rutinel moves to a November faceoff with Gabe Evans
With the primary completed, Rutinel now heads into a November contest against Republican Congressman Gabe Evans. The district is politically balanced, and analysts expect a hard-fought general election. Rutinel won 60.9% of the primary vote, defeating Shannon Bird to become the Democratic nominee.
His campaign also benefited from demographic strength, especially among Latino voters, who account for about 40% of the district’s population. That bloc was presented as an important source of support during the primary.
Republicans frame him as too far left for swing voters
Republican strategists see Rutinel as a more favorable opponent than Bird. Their calculation is straightforward: a progressive candidate may have a tougher time winning over centrist voters in a district where the margins are tight. Operatives have already started circulating images linking Rutinel with left-wing figures as part of that message.
At the same time, Rutinel appears to be softening some policy positions before November. The article notes that he had previously called for universal healthcare and opposed fracking, while now taking a more moderate tone on both issues. Whether that recalibration changes voter response remains unclear, especially as Democrats continue debating ideology inside the party.