Manny Rutinel, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, has a controversial history with his stance on ranching and animal-related industries. A significant portion of the district’s economy depends on these sectors. Despite his previous activism against these industries, he now seeks to unseat Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican, in one of the nation’s highly contested districts.
In a late 2025 interview with the Colorado Sun, Rutinel expressed a shift in his views on ranching. He acknowledged that there are “bad apples” in the industry but emphasized that he opposes practices leading to unnecessary animal cruelty and food production methods harming the environment. Rutinel praised Colorado ranchers, underscoring their importance as economic backbones and respected community members.
The significance of ranching in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District cannot be overstated. According to Upstate Colorado Economic Development, this district is a major producer of beef cattle and dairy, accounting for 26% of the state’s production. Of its 2.5 million acres of land, 75% is used for farming and livestock.
Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft criticized Rutinel, poking fun at his past activist moniker, “Meatless Manny.” Kraft argued that Rutinel’s advocacy for veganism poses a direct threat to the district’s agricultural sector.
Rutinel’s past remarks suggest his views favor a world that might minimize or eliminate ranching altogether. As a young activist, he advocated for veganism at Earth Day events and shared similar perspectives during his testimony before the Connecticut legislature while at Yale Law School.
He referenced the Planetary Health Diet, which recommends a global move away from animal products in favor of plant-based foods. Advocates claim this shift offers considerable health benefits and addresses climate change.
As a state legislator, Rutinel called a proposed fur ban “awesome,” and initiated efforts for fast-food chains like Popeyes to adopt plant-based menus during the COVID-19 pandemic. This aligned with his founding of Climate Refarm, an organization encouraging institutions to transition to plant-based food systems.
Rutinel did not immediately respond to inquiries on whether he maintains that climate reform necessitates changes in farming industries. With the Democratic primary behind him, Rutinel gears up to challenge Evans in the general election on November 3, 2026.
Leo Briceno, who reports on politics for Fox News Digital, composed this piece. Previously, he wrote for World Magazine.