Why It Matters
Mainstream Colorado Fund reports more than $500,000 in total outside spending in the 2026 cycle, and its filings to date show over $200,00 in independent expenditures supporting Manny Rutinel and opposing Timothy Joseph Evans. The group describes itself as focused on electing leaders committed to Colorado's future and says it wants to defend the state's quality of life from what it calls an "extreme agenda" that would restrict freedoms and increase costs.
The organization's website says they are "dedicated to electing leaders with a steadfast focus on Colorado’s future by defending our state’s quality of life against an extreme agenda that threatens to restrict our freedoms and increase our costs. We take decisive action to protect what makes Colorado special and keep our state moving forward." As a super PAC, Mainstream Colorado Fund can raise and spend unlimited sums but cannot coordinate directly with a candidate's campaign. Through June 30, the committee reported $31,887 in disbursements and $5,755 in cash on hand.
What It Spent
The committee's record shows $0 in independent expenditures and a 2026 cycle outside spending total of $532,024.48 as of October 6. That total reflects filings submitted directly to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that have not yet been captured in a periodic report, so the full picture of the committee's activity comes from individual transaction records rather than a summary filing.
The committee split its outside spending evenly between the two candidates in Colorado's 8th District race: $266,012 in support of Rutinel and $266,012 in opposition to Evans. Rather than focusing resources on boosting one candidate or tearing down the other, the committee applied equal pressure to both sides of the matchup.
The Ad Buy
On September 26, Grassroots Voter Outreach received $25,830 for canvassing in support of Rutinel and an identical $25,830 opposing Evans. On September 1, the same vendor received $24,784.50 for canvassing on behalf of Rutinel and $24,784.50 against Evans. On September 28, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America reported in-kind canvassing contributions of $12,841.73 each, one in support of Rutinel and one opposing Evans.
Grassroots Voter Outreach appears in multiple canvassing transactions, dated from late July through late September 2026, with matching dates and amounts for both the support of Manny Rutinel and the opposition to Timothy Joseph Evans, except for a July 30 row that applies only to Rutinel.
Other Spenders in the Same Races
Aggregated spending records list CLF at $3.72 million, No Going Back PAC Inc. at $1.29 million, Latino Victory Fund at $1 million, You Can Push Back at $976,944, and Somos PAC at $823,568. Aggregated records list $329,500 for the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E, $250,000 for CHC BOLD PAC, and $108,436.20 for 314 Action Fund. Taken together, outside spending in Colorado's 8th District has reached well into the millions.
You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.
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