Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., said Wednesday the Democratic Party has been captured by its socialist wing after state Rep. Manny Rutinel, a Zohran Mamdani ally, won the Democrat nomination to challenge him in Colorado's 8th Congressional District and 29-year-old democratic socialist Melat Kiros ousted 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., in the neighboring 1st District.

Evans told Newsmax's "National Report" that his November race in a Cook Political Report toss-up seat will give voters a "contrast for America" between his record and what he called a slate of "Democrat socialists" on the ballot statewide.

Rutinel, a state representative since 2023 whose family emigrated from the Dominican Republic, defeated former state Rep. Shannon Bird by roughly 25 points, according to unofficial returns, in a district that is about 40% Hispanic and that Evans flipped by less than a point in 2024.

Republican operatives have spent months tying Rutinel to Mamdani, the newly elected New York City mayor, after a Congressional Leadership Fund ad featured footage of Rutinel appearing at a Mamdani rally.

Evans made the link explicit, saying Rutinel "literally campaigned with Mamdani, has advocated for banning oil and gas, has called farmers and ranchers horrific, is endorsed by every Democrat socialist in the state legislature in Colorado."

Evans, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant and the only Latino in Colorado's congressional delegation, said Hispanic voters in the district care most about affordability.

"Hispanics such as myself, because I'm Hispanic, I'm the only Hispanic in Colorado's delegation, House, Senate, Republican or Democrat," he said. "We want a good economy. We want to be able to afford to live, work, and raise our kids. And what socialists stand for wrecks the economy."

Drawing a policy contrast, Evans said he voted to exempt overtime pay from federal income tax while Rutinel, as a state lawmaker, opposed conforming Colorado's tax code.

He also faulted Rutinel for backing state spending on gender-transition care for incarcerated felons and for policies he said would eliminate residential natural gas.

"He wants to take your natural gas stove. He wants to take your natural gas furnace away from you," Evans said. "And he's made Colorado the third most expensive state in the nation."

The broader message, Evans said, is that the Democratic Party of John F. Kennedy is finished.

"The party of John F. Kennedy, I think, is on the ropes right now," he said. "And what we're seeing instead is this absolute socialism." Voters, he added, "are going to have a very clear choice."

Evans traced the shift to what he called a socialist ideological pipeline running from Colorado classrooms through the state's flagship university.

"That's what the left has been teaching our kids for a generation," Evans said. "And now, is it any surprise that they come out as socialist, America-hating activists?"

Evans faces Rutinel on Nov. 3 in what national political handicappers rate as one of the most competitive House races in the country and a likely bellwether for control of the chamber.

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