Democratic congressional candidate Manny Rutinel has raised more than $1 million since launching his bid in late January to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado’s swingy 8th Congressional District, his campaign said.

In just six weeks, Rutinel entered seven-figure territory with the help of more than 23,000 individual contributors, for an average contribution of less than $35, according to the Commerce City state lawmaker’s campaign. More than 99% of contributions were under $100, a campaign spokeswoman added.

Evans, an Army veteran and retired police officer, is serving his first term representing the Northern Front Range district after defeating Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo by fewer than 2,500 votes in last year’s election — the second election in a row when the competitive seat was decided by a margin smaller than 1 percentage point.

The closely divided district covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties, stretching along U.S. 85 from suburbs north of Denver to Greeley. It’s been ranked as a toss-up seat by election analysts since its creation following the 2020 census.

Rutinel, the son of an immigrant single mother from the Dominican Republican and a Yale Law School graduate, is serving his first full term representing Adams County’s House District 32 after winning a vacancy appointment to the seat in late 2023.

“This campaign is powered by everyday people who believe in building an economy that works for working families, like the one I grew up in,” Rutinel said in a statement. “This campaign isn’t about billionaires — it’s about thousands of hardworking people chipping in whatever they can because they know we need leadership that puts people first.”

Rutinel burst out of the gate following his Jan. 27 candidacy announcement, raising more than $500,000 in the first 48 hours, his campaign said.

A spokeswoman for Evans’ campaign told Colorado Politics that Rutinel’s massive early haul could make things difficult for other Democrats considering jumping into what’s likely to be a crowded primary field.

“Any Democrat who dares to challenge Army combat veteran and former cop Gabe Evans is going to need all the help they can get,” Delanie Bomar said in an email. “While Democrats focus on a primary that is bound to be a race to the left, Congressman Gabe Evans is working hard to fix Colorado’s crime, immigration, energy, and inflation crises that Manny and his liberal friends created.”

Caraveo, a pediatrician and former state lawmaker, hasn’t said yet whether she wants a rematch with Evans. Other potential Democratic candidates for the seat include term-limited State Treasurer Dave Young; state Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn; state Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Northglenn; and Adams County Commissioners Steve O’Dorisio and Julie Mullica.

Congressional candidates’ fundraising reports covering the first three months of the year are due to the Federal Election Commission by April 15.