Democratic nominee for Colorado's Eighth Congressional District Manny Rutinel has built his campaign on his upbringing by a single mother, but less known are his familial connections to a prominent socialist political dynasty in the Dominican Republic. While Rutinel rarely discusses his father, César Santiago Rutinel Domínguez, known as "Tonty", has held multiple elected offices and faced allegations of domestic violence during a decades-long career in Caribbean leftist politics.
A Family Legacy of Socialist Activism
Tonty, who shares a first name with his estranged son, served in both chambers of the Dominican Republic's legislature and held leadership roles in the Domestic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and Modern Revolutionary Party, both affiliated with the Socialist International. During a 2010 mayoral campaign, he vowed to lead a "socialist" government and expand taxpayer-funded services. Manny, meanwhile, wrote blog posts in 2013-2014 advocating for socialist policies, including "What Would Jesus Do? Socialism" and "Why a More Socialistic Society Is Superior."
The two men, despite their strained relationship, share a history of arrests tied to left-wing causes. Tonty was imprisoned at 15 for "defending leftist positions," while Manny was arrested in 2019 for participating in a climate protest that disrupted the Yale-Harvard football game. Both have since distanced from their activist pasts: Tonty remains active in politics, while Manny now supports Colorado's ranching and oil industries he once opposed.
Contrasting Public Images: From Vegan Activist to Pro-Ranching Candidate
Rutinel's campaign has not addressed questions about his family's political history or the circumstances of his parents' separation. "Manny has rarely seen or spoken to his father," a spokesperson stated. "He was raised by his single mother, and she's the person who made him who he is today." Public records show Tonty has faced repeated allegations of violence, including a 2011 domestic abuse arrest and a 2005 incident where he allegedly threatened a legislative colleague with a gun.
The Republican Party has seized on Rutinel's socialist blog posts and family ties as the race for Colorado's Eighth District intensifies. The newly drawn district, which has flipped parties in both of its previous elections, could determine control of the House in 2024. Rutinel, who defeated a more progressive primary opponent, now emphasizes his support for local industries, claiming he abandoned veganism to "enjoy the delicious products that Colorado ranchers make."
Tonty's political network extends beyond his immediate family. His cousin, Hipólito Mejía, served as Dominican president from 2000 to 2004, and his mother, Francisca Otilia Domínguez, participated in a 1965 revolution alongside Marxist-Leninist leaders. Manny's campaign has not commented on these connections or how they might influence his policy positions if elected.