Elusive Trump endorsement helps define Colorado race

By Liam Hibbert
The Center Square

Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District primaries have been defined by changes in President Donald Trump’s endorsement, a late challenger and environmental concerns.

The pair of June 30 contests feature two Republicans and two Democrats, as incumbent Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, looks to hold onto his seat after an endorsement by Trump. That follows the Republican president’s earlier criticism of Hurd and endorsement of a different candidate in the GOP primary. The winners of the two partisan races will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election.

Candidates in the largely rural district are going head-to-head on the economy and environment. The state’s largest district geographically wraps around much of rural and mountainous western and southern Colorado.

“Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, should in no way, shape, or form, be impeded from winning the District in that the Democrat alternative is a DISASTER for our Country,” said President Donald Trump in a social media post on Truth Social from March. “Therefore, I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives, giving him my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Trump’s endorsement of the incumbent Hurd for the Republican primary coincided with the announcement of Republican primary challenger Hope Scheppelman’s exit from the election. It came as a sharp turn from a month earlier when Trump had berated Hurd and endorsed Scheppelman to unseat the freshman congressman.

“[Hurd is] more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America,” Trump said in a February Truth Social social media post, calling the freshman congressman a RINO (Republican in name only). The post had itself reversed an even earlier endorsement of Hurd from late 2025, citing Hurd’s lack of support for Trump’s tariffs.

Scheppleman did not respond to questions from The Center Square about her withdrawal from the campaign. Hurd also did not respond to a request for comment, but said in a March social media post on X that he was grateful for the president’s endorsement.

Following Trump’s endorsement of Hurd, former state Rep. Ron Hanks launched a last-minute campaign bid in April. Hanks and Hurd previously ran against each other for the Republican district primary in 2024, which Hurd won to replace Rep. Lauren Boebert. Hanks did not respond to a request for comment by The Center Square but has echoed criticism of Hurd for dissent against Trump.

Amid the endorsement whirlwind surrounding the Republican primary is a policy argument focused on the economy and environment.

According to his campaign site, Hurd supports the expansion of oil and gas in the state along with competitively priced renewable energy to bring down energy costs. He also has said he would fight to prioritize the state’s Colorado River water rights amid ongoing negotiations between western states over the valuable water source.

Hurd’s Republican and Democratic challengers have criticized his support for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which critics say are increasing healthcare costs for Americans.

“I will not vote for another Big Beautiful Bill if something similar is brought forward,” Hanks said in a statement critical of Hurd.

While Hanks has repeatedly criticized Hurd for breaking with Trump’s leadership, he has stated that in addition to his opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill, he would oppose the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. He blamed the conflict started by Trump for high gas prices and inflation.

Across the aisle, the district’s Democratic primary features Alex Kelloff and Dwayne Romero. Kelloff is a businessman who cofounded skiing brand Armada Skis, while Romero is an Army veteran and former city council member in Aspen.

Kelloff told The Center Square that the two largest issues the state was facing were the cost of living and the rule of law, particularly Congress’ ability to act as a balance of power to the president.

He said he would be open-minded to legislation that would ban institutional investors from buying up large numbers of single-family homes. He also advocated for the end of the conflict with Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Protecting our public lands and water are critically important in this district because public lands make up so much of the landscape here,” said Kelloff. “Water is so critically important to our agricultural industries as well as outdoor recreation, which are the two largest economic drivers [for the district].”

Kelloff added that while Colorado River water rights negotiations are not currently decided by the federal government, he would support a third-party moderator to find a solution to the issue if it came to that point.

Romero did not respond to a request for comment by The Center Square.

Hurd has received over $3.2 million in total campaign receipts, including over $300,000 from Growth the Majority Political Action Committee, backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana. The Republican Defend our Majority PAC contributed over $170,000 to Hurd. Hanks has received just over $20,000 since his campaign began in April, including over $9,000 in self-made loans and no other named donors.

Both of the Democratic candidates featured heavily self-funded campaigns with large support from Democratic PAC ActBlue.

Romero had received nearly $700,000 to his campaign, which included $350,000 in loans by the candidate. Act Blue had contributed 134 times to Romero’s campaign, with the largest sums at $22,084.34. Democratic PAC Winthecenter contributed $10,000 to his campaign.

Kelloff had filed over $1.2 million in total campaign receipts, including $550,000 in self-made loans. ActBlue had made 804 different contributions to Kelloff’s campaign, with the largest sums at $7,000. In other donations, $5,000 came from Common Ground PAC, associated with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 30, Election Day. For more information visit the secretary of state’s website, coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections. Early election results will be published that evening at www.thecentersquare.com/colorado