FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 07, 2026
October 07, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 4 Candidates for Election to Congress Representing Colorado
Categories:
Congress, Election 2026, House
AFGE says endorsed candidates will support federal workers and their rights
AURORA, Colo. –– The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of four candidates running to represent Colorado in the U.S. House in the 2026 election. The general election is Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are Melat Kiros (CD-1), Dwayne Romeros (CD-3), Eileen Laubacher (CD-4), and Manny Rutinel (CD-8).
Melat Kiros immigrated with her family from Ethiopia as an infant and grew up in Aurora, Colorado. She graduated from Washington College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics in 2018 and from Notre Dame Law School in 2022.
Dwayne Romeros graduated from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), served seven years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and graduated from the Army Ranger School. As combat engineer executive officer during the Persian Gulf War, Romeros earned a Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious achievement. During his time in the Army, Romeros was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. He joined then-Governor John Hickenlooper’s administration as Director of Economic Development and served on city council and school board. Today, Romeros employs 120 Coloradans as the owner and operator of a property management company on the Western Slope.
Eileen Laubaucher, a retired Rear Admiral, served our country for 34 years in the U.S. Navy – leading people, solving difficult problems, and putting service over self. Laubacher retired from the Navy in 2024 and returned home to Colorado to continue her public service.
Manny Rutinel is the son of a Latina immigrant single mother who grew up working at McDonalds and selling his blood to make ends meet. He earned degrees in microbiology and economics and became an economist in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he was a member of AFGE Local 2930 before earning a law degree. As a Colorado state representative, Rutinel passed bipartisan laws that lowered the cost of healthcare and housing and cosponsored and passed legislation to crack down on wage theft and protect workers from being misclassified as independent contractors.
“These four candidates – three of them veterans – have solid credentials and will represent AFGE members in Colorado well,” AFGE District 11 National Vice President Tim Snyder said. “Their impressive backgrounds will help us win a pro-labor Congress.”
AFGE previously endorsed Jessica Killin for election to the U.S. House representing Colorado’s 5th Congressional District and five members of Congress for reelection to their seats representing the state.
More than 60,500 federal employees live in Colorado – safeguarding the food we eat and the air we breathe, caring for veterans, supporting the military, and ensuring Social Security recipients receive their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE-represented employees care for veterans, support the military, and ensure Social Security recipients receive their benefits accurately and on time.
Written by OPEIU 2 AFL-CIO
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