The Choice is Clear

The CD-3 Republican Assembly

The recent CD-3 Republican Assembly in Pueblo proved dramatic. Former state representative Ron Hanks secured designation to the June 30 primary ballot with overwhelming delegate support. Reports from the floor described Hanks receiving near unanimous backing in a voice vote that stunned the establishment. Incumbent Representative Jeff Hurd qualified instead through paid petition signatures.

Ballot Access and Funding Gap

Hurd enters the race with significant financial advantages. Campaign finance records show he has raised nearly 3 million dollars this cycle with about 1.9 million dollars cash on hand. Much of that support traces to groups such as Americans for Prosperity, which spent heavily on his behalf in prior races. Trackers from pro-Israel PACs also list substantial contributions to Hurd. By contrast, Hanks runs a grassroots campaign without comparable resources.

Trump Endorsement Drama

The path to this matchup involved high-level maneuvering. President Trump initially endorsed Hurd after his 2024 victory. In February 2026 Trump withdrew that support and backed challenger Hope Scheppelman, citing Hurd's opposition to key tariff authority needed to protect American workers. Trump publicly called Hurd a RINO over the issue. Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and former Colorado GOP vice chair, gained momentum. Yet in March Trump reversed course again. He announced that he had asked Scheppelman to suspend her campaign and join his administration in another capacity. Trump then re-endorsed Hurd. The timing aligned with the need for reliable House votes on the president's agenda through the midterms. Critics viewed the sequence as evidence that Hurd leveraged his position to regain the president's backing.

Confrontation at the Assembly

Tensions boiled over at the assembly itself. Delegates reported Hurd facing boos while Hanks confronted him directly amid heated exchanges. The decorum collapsed in a way that underscored deeper divisions. Hanks positioned himself firmly in the America First camp without resorting to such tactics.

Hurd's Voting Record

Hurd touts a 98 percent alignment with Trump on votes. Yet the remaining 2 percent includes critical breaks. In September 2025 Hurd was one of only four Republicans who voted to table a censure resolution against Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar. The measure responded to Omar's comments mocking the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The resolution failed 214-213. Hurd defended his vote on First Amendment grounds, stating that reprehensible speech should be met with more speech rather than silencing. Many conservatives saw the move as shielding a vocal Trump critic at a sensitive moment.

Hurd also opposed granting the president broad authority to impose tariffs on foreign goods. That stance directly prompted Trump's temporary endorsement withdrawal.

The GORP Act Land Grab

On Colorado issues Hurd stands apart from district priorities. He co-sponsored the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act, known as the GORP Act, alongside Democratic Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. The legislation would permanently protect more than 730,000 acres across the Gunnison Basin and surrounding regions through wilderness designations, oil and gas withdrawals, and other restrictions. Proponents highlight recreation, wildlife, and conservation benefits. Critics, including local energy producers and agricultural voices, call it the largest federal land grab in Colorado history. The bill would limit oil and gas exploration, timber harvesting, and mining on lands vital to the Western Slope economy. In the Uncompahgre Valley, including Montrose, such restrictions raise serious concerns about water rights and agricultural viability, which form the backbone of local communities.

Disconnected from Constituents

This disconnect from local priorities became clear during a meet and greet with Jeff Hurd on April 1, 2026. Constituents raised urgent questions about water issues, a critical challenge in Colorado. When citizens offered practical solutions tailored to district needs, Hurd showed no interest in exploring viable alternatives and dismissed the ideas as not feasible. This interaction highlights that Hurd does not listen to the people of his district and remains far removed from their actual concerns.

A Clear Choice for CD-3

Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, presents himself as a mainstream Republican. His record, however, reveals a pattern of siding with establishment priorities over district needs. Ron Hanks offers a clear contrast. A proven conservative with military and legislative experience, Hanks has consistently supported Trump-era policies without compromise. He does not chase big-money donors or trade votes for personal leverage.

Voters in CD-3 face a choice between entrenched funding and grassroots conviction. With the primary weeks away, the district must decide whether to reward a representative whose occasional breaks from the America First agenda have real consequences for Colorado jobs and sovereignty. Ron Hanks represents the stronger alignment with the president's vision and the values that built the Western Slope. The time has come to send a true fighter to Congress.



Michael J Badagliacco, "MJB"