Rep. Jeff Hurd Wins Republican Nomination in Colorado
Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican from Colorado, secured his party’s nomination on Tuesday, overcoming a challenge from the right as he aims to keep his congressional seat competitive. The Democratic Party is looking to gain ground in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
As reported by the Associated Press, Hurd triumphed over former state Rep. Ron Hanks in the Republican primary for a large district that encompasses much of western and southern Colorado.
Initially, Hurd had the backing of President Donald Trump, but he lost that support after he sided with Democrats in February regarding a largely symbolic decision to eliminate tariffs on Canada. However, Trump renewed his endorsement in March, urging Hurd’s antagonist, Navy veteran Hope Schepelman, to drop out of the race and join his administration. Schepelman, a former state Republican Party vice chair and an acute care nurse, now serves as a senior adviser on substance abuse at the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I fully support Jeff’s re-election to the House!” Trump said on Truth Social. He emphasized the necessity for MAGA supporters to unite against the “crazy radical left Democrats” in the upcoming elections.
After Schepelman’s exit, Hanks entered the primary once again, having previously challenged Hurd in 2024, where Hurd emerged victorious with just over 40% of the vote.
A veteran of the Air Force, Hanks has made unproven claims that President Joe Biden was “fraudulently elected.” He acknowledged participating in the January 6th riot but stated he did not enter the Capitol and faced no criminal charges.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, another Republican from Colorado, previously held a different district but switched to run in a more Republican-friendly seat in eastern Colorado for the 2024 elections.
On the Democratic front, businessman Alex Keroff and Army veteran Dwayne Romero are competing for their party’s nomination.
Democrats are hopeful about unseating Hurd, who won Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District by a mere five points. This district includes both affluent ski areas and strongly Democratic regions like Pueblo.
Hanks has labeled Hurd a “fake conservative,” questioning his loyalty to the president, despite Hurd’s support for Trump on most major issues, even if he diverges on tariffs and sanctions against Russia.
Interestingly, he also joined forces with Boebert in voting against a Trump veto regarding a water pipeline in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley.
Hurd, an attorney by trade, has a background as president of the Grand Junction Regional Chamber of Commerce. He holds influential positions as the vice chair of the Western Caucus and is part of several committees including House Natural Resources, Transportation, and Infrastructure.
