Democrat enters race to unseat Rep. Hurd in western Colorado

Democrat Dwayne Romero of Aspen has entered the race to unseat U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. 

Romero worked as director of economic development under then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, and served on the Aspen City Council and on the Aspen School District Board of Education. He is a former Army Ranger and a Bronze Star recipient. He now owns and operates a property and construction management business.  

Financial executive Alex Kelloff is also running to flip Hurd’s seat, and prior to Romero’s announcement he was the only Democrat who had reported raising money in the race. February campaign finance disclosures showed Kelloff raising over $800,000, and he said last week that he surpassed $1 million.

The Democratic primary election will take place on June 30. 

“Instead of fighting for Colorado families, Jeff Hurd is taking orders from DC party bosses and rubberstamping reckless policies that raise our costs,” Romero said in a statement announcing his campaign. “Coloradans deserve a strong leader not a weak lawyer representing us in Congress.” 

Hurd, a Grand Junction Republican, is facing a primary challenge from Hope Scheppelman, former vice chair of the Colorado Republican Party. President Donald Trump pulled his endorsement of Hurd last month, instead opting to support Scheppelman.

In his campaign announcement, Romero said Hurd’s voting record has made “life more expensive for Coloradans,” particularly measures that affected access to health care. 

Hurd won the 3rd District after its previous representative, Lauren Boebert, moved across the state to the more conservative 4th Congressional District. She nearly lost the 3rd District to Democrat Adam Frisch, winning the 2022 election by only 546 votes.  

The district includes the Western Slope and sweeps east to include Pueblo County..