NEWS BRIEF
The Colorado Democratic Party will not select a replacement for former state Rep. Manny Rutinel’s House District 32 seat after his Sept. 7 resignation, the Denver Gazette reported. Rutinel is running for Congress.
Party Chair Shad Murib said the party preferred to leave the choice to voters rather than use a vacancy committee shortly before the election. The report said the governor’s office had not announced how it would handle the vacancy; state law provides for a gubernatorial appointment if a vacancy committee cannot select a replacement within 30 days.
What to know
House District 32 may remain without a full representative before the election unless the vacancy is addressed. The Denver Gazette reported that the governor had until Oct. 12 to decide, while Democrat Chris VanDijk and Republican Michelle Lee are running for the seat in November.
Reporting: Denver Gazette · 09-16-2026
