Who's running in Colorado's 3rd congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Jeff Hurd currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
'Serious leadership for rural Colorado' and independence from party leadership when the district's interests diverge.
Opposing tariffs on Canadian imports.
Extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.
Preserving Medicaid for those who need it by focusing spending away from able-bodied adults who can work.
Opposing sales of public lands while repealing some Biden-era resource management plans.
Reasserting Congress's Article I powers.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Colorado's 3rd District since January 2025; beat Democrat Adam Frisch by about 5 points in 2024.
One of six House Republicans who voted with Democrats to repeal Trump's tariffs on Canada; lost and later regained Trump's endorsement.
Voted for the 2025 Republican tax and spending law.
Voted to override Trump's veto of a water bill affecting southeastern Colorado.
Credited by Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet with securing federal money to complete a purchase of Colorado River water rights.
Co-sponsor with Sen. Bennet of a western Colorado conservation bill.
Won the June 30, 2026 Republican primary with 66.4%.
Arguments in favor
'Hopefully you've seen me as somebody that's been a voice of independence. I lost the president's endorsement because I was willing to take that stand on tariffs.'
— Jeff Hurd, at a Glenwood Springs constituent meeting reported by The Colorado Sun
'Congressman Jeff Hurd is a commonsense leader who fights for western and southern Colorado, delivering real results.'
— Zach Bannon, NRCC spokesman, to The Colorado Sun
'I've got to give a lot of credit to Jeff Hurd who managed to get that done' — securing federal money for Colorado River water rights when 'Trump wasn't exactly returning my phone calls'.
— Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, remarks to voters reported by The Colorado Sun
Arguments against
'Jeff Hurd sold Coloradans out by voting to gut their health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.'
— Lindsay Reilly, DCCC spokeswoman, to The Colorado Sun
'Time and time again, Jeff Hurd has chosen his political bosses over families in Colorado. He has voted to cut their healthcare and prolong Trump's reckless wars.' He broke his promise to protect health care, a 'huge failure'.
— Dwayne Romero, Democratic opponent, on social media and to the Post Independent
Hurd has broken from President Trump too often to represent the largely rural district.
— Ron Hanks, Republican primary opponent, as reported by Colorado Politics
What we couldn’t verify
How Hurd would respond if courts confirm the administration retaliated against Colorado over Tina Peters was not clearly answered in the coverage read.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Reversing the 2025 Republican budget law and restoring health care funding.
Lowering grocery, pharmacy and housing costs and standing up to corporations and special interests.
Ensuring 'not one more square foot of public lands is bartered or sold away to private interests'.
Restoring Congress as a check on the executive branch.
Protecting rural hospitals.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Army officer for seven years, Ranger School graduate and Bronze Star recipient.
President and CEO of the Romero Group in Aspen.
Former director of Colorado's Office of Economic Development under Gov. John Hickenlooper; former Aspen City Council and Aspen school board member.
Won the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary with 55.2% over Alex Kelloff.
Endorsed by Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Jason Crow and former Rep. John Salazar, among others.
Arguments in favor
Voters in the district are hurting and will back a strong leader; he will 'fight every day to lower costs at the grocery store and pharmacy, bring down housing costs, and stand up to the corporations and special interests driving prices higher.'
— Dwayne Romero, post-primary statement reported by The Colorado Sun
The district is ready to elect new leadership rather than a representative 'doing Washington's bidding'.
— Colorado Democratic Party, press release reported by The Colorado Sun
Arguments against
'Rural Coloradans have no interest in electing a far-left liberal who pushes the Democrats' radical agenda.'
— Zach Bannon, NRCC spokesman, to The Colorado Sun
His TV ad accusing Hurd of 'only listening to his donors', namely 'Arizona special interests out to steal our water', rests on a single $1,500 donation from a Phoenix-area water cooperative — a questionable claim.
— The Colorado Sun, reviewing Democratic attack ads
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of Romero's record or background by Hurd's campaign could be found beyond the NRCC's general characterisation.
Romero's fundraising totals were not established from the sources read.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Colorado held its primaries on June 30, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. The district uses the map drawn by Colorado's independent redistricting commission in 2021; no redistricting affecting 2026 was found. Amendment 86 on this November's ballot concerns future congressional redistricting and would not change the 2026 lines. Four candidates are on the ballot, per the Secretary of State's list certified September 4: Republican incumbent Jeff Hurd, who beat former state Rep. Ron Hanks 66.4% to 33.6%; Democrat Dwayne Romero, who beat Alex Kelloff 55% to 45%; Libertarian Cory Robertson; and unaffiliated Clifton Brown. Ballotpedia lists Heather Barton as an unaffiliated candidate who did not make the ballot. President Trump endorsed Hurd in October 2025, withdrew the endorsement in February 2026 over Hurd's vote against tariffs on Canada, backed Hope Scheppelman, then re-endorsed Hurd in March after Scheppelman left the race. The district covers most of the Western Slope and extends to Pueblo and southern Colorado. Hurd won in 2024 by about 5 points; the DCCC has added the seat to its 'districts in play'.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Colorado ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.