Jeff Hurd retains Colorado 3rd District seat
The Grand Junction attorney defeated Dwayne Romero in a narrow contest that defied the state's recent Democratic trend.
By Justin Brooks ·
Colorado's 3rd Congressional District has remained under Republican control since 2011, and that streak continued on Friday morning. U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd won a narrow victory against Democrat Dwayne Romero. The result contradicts the recent trend of Democratic gains across the state and the nation.
The Associated Press called the race for Hurd at 9:24 a.m. Friday. At that time, Hurd had captured 49.3 percent of the vote. Romero held 47.4 percent, with approximately 97 percent of ballots counted. The district covers the rugged Western Slope and much of southern Colorado, including Pueblo.
Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, first won the seat in 2024. He took over after former Rep. Lauren Boebert left to run in a different district. Boebert is still trailing her Democratic opponent in a close race in her new district. If Boebert loses, Hurd will be the sole Republican in Colorado's congressional delegation.
In a video recorded from the San Luis Valley, Hurd thanked his supporters and staff. He was in the region to visit after heavy rainfall caused flooding. Hurd told voters he would keep working hard to represent everyone in the district, regardless of how they voted. He promised to show up, listen, and work for every part of the area.
Romero, a resident of Snowmass Village, conceded the race in a statement. He said he called Hurd on Friday morning to let him know. Romero noted that the campaign focused on making life more affordable, holding Washington accountable, and protecting the district's water and public lands. He stated that those efforts would continue even after the election.
Romero won the Democratic primary in June. He had entered the race only four months before that primary. The district also includes parts of the Aspen area, where Romero previously served on the city council and the school district board.
The outcome of this race follows recent losses for other Colorado Republicans. Reps. Gabe Evans and Jeff Crank both lost their re-election bids earlier in the week. Hurd's victory ensures the party holds at least one seat in the state's delegation for the next term.
