Hurd Holds Colorado’s 3rd District

Jeff Hurd won the election for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District on Friday, defeating Democrat Dwayne Romero in a contest that defined the state’s shifting political map. The Associated Press called the race at 9:24 a.m. on Friday. At that moment, Hurd had secured 49.29% of the reported votes. Romero held 47.44%. Libertarian candidate Cory Robertson and unaffiliated Clifton Brown finished with 1.67% and 1.6% of the vote, respectively.

Hurd’s win positions him as the only Republican in Colorado’s congressional delegation. Three other GOP members of Congress from the state lost their races or appeared destined to do so. This outcome makes Hurd the highest-ranking elected Republican official in Colorado for the coming term. The district covers most of the state west of the Continental Divide and extends south to include Pueblo and other areas.

Hurd is an attorney and former small business owner residing in Grand Junction. He has five children and a wife. He first won this seat in 2024 after Lauren Boebert moved to a different district. The 3rd District has elected a Republican to Congress continuously since 2011. Donald Trump won the area by 10 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. However, the district has often served as a target for Democratic candidates due to its independent voting history.

The 2026 race was tight. Internal polls indicated a close contest. Hurd’s campaign emphasized his disagreements with President Trump. He told voters at one stop that he hoped to be seen as a voice of independence. Romero, a former Army combat veteran and small business owner, attacked Hurd’s support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Romero argued the district was ready for a candidate who would lower costs and protect Social Security.

Spending in the race was heavy but uneven. Republican groups poured more than $3 million into the district. By the time Democrats spent over $2 million on television ads for Romero, about a quarter of the state’s electorate had already voted. Several national Democratic groups chose to fund other races instead, leaving Romero with less external support. The district’s large size and multiple media markets made the campaign logistically difficult and expensive.

After the results came in, Hurd issued a written statement. He expressed gratitude to voters for their trust. He thanked Romero for a hard-fought campaign and his service to the country. Hurd said he would work for every corner of the district regardless of who voted for him. Romero also issued a statement. He said he had congratulated Hurd and was proud of the race they ran.

Local voters cited independence as a factor in their choices. Jeff Wallace, an unaffiliated resident of Pagosa Springs, said he voted for Hurd because of his integrity. Wallace described Hurd as a moderate Republican willing to listen to both sides. The final margin reflects a district that remains competitive, with previous elections decided by narrow margins or small percentage shifts.