Democrat Shannon Bird qualifies for primary ballot in Colorado's 8th CD

Former state lawmaker submits enough petition signatures to make the Democratic primary ballot in the closely watched U.S. House race.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Former state Rep. Shannon Bird has qualified for the Democratic primary ballot in Colorado's hotly contested 8th Congressional District by submitting a sufficient number of petition signatures, state election officials said this week. The winner of the Democrats' June 30 primary will attempt to unseat first-term U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican, in the most closely divided U.S. House district in the state.

Why it matters

Colorado's newly created 8th Congressional District is considered one of the most competitive House races in the country, with the 2022 and 2024 elections decided by less than 1 percentage point. The district has a higher share of Hispanic voters than any other congressional district in the state, at around 40%.

The details

Bird, who resigned from her Westminster-based legislative seat at the beginning of the year to campaign full-time, joins Evan Munsing, a Thornton investment executive and Marine veteran, in the Democratic primary. Munsing was the first candidate in the state for any office this year to qualify for the ballot by petition. The 8th CD, Colorado's newest House seat, covers parts of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties.

  • Bird submitted the required number of petition signatures this week.
  • The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 30, 2026.
  • The general election will be held in November 2026.

The players

Shannon Bird

Former state representative who has qualified for the Democratic primary ballot in Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

Gabe Evans

First-term U.S. Representative and Republican incumbent in Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

Evan Munsing

Thornton investment executive and Marine veteran who is also running in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

Manny Rutinel

State Representative and environmental attorney who is expected to join the Democratic primary race for Colorado's 8th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“I'm tremendously grateful for every voter, volunteer, and member of our team who circulated and signed our petition. Together, we'll continue to show up in every corner of this district and elect a congresswoman who will champion our needs, not the wishes of the president.”

— Shannon Bird (Colorado Politics)

What’s next

The Democratic and Republican state assemblies are scheduled for late March, where candidates will seek to secure delegate support. Mail ballots for the June 30 primary will start going out to voters in early June.

The takeaway

The race for Colorado's 8th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and competitive House races in the country, with a diverse electorate and high stakes for both parties.