Julian “JuJu” Lewis says he enjoyed his time in Boulder. But was it enough to sway him away from his commitment to USC?

The highly sought-after Carrollton high school quarterback prospect was ushered in and welcomed by everyone around the foot of the Flatirons. This was Lewis’ third official visit to Colorado since the start of the year. However, this visit was particularly noteworthy given how the city showed the Peachtree passer nothing but love.

“It was a cool weekend,” Lewis told SI. “I met a lot of good people while I was in Boulder and definitely noticed the things they did around town.” He went on to say he was shutting down his recruitment.

The nation’s top ranked prospect, according to ESPN, had a burger named after him and had welcome signs all over the place. He garnered a great deal of attention with everyone knowing how monumental it would be for CU to land him

As for the verbal commitment to USC? That hasn’t alter Lewis’ approach or wanting to survey his options. The elite signal-caller has taken official visits to Indiana, Auburn and Colorado as of late. While the Trojans are still in the picture, the Buffaloes and Tigers did enough to stay afloat.

The prominence of Deion Sanders has brought significant attention to Colorado’s football program, making it a prime destination for top recruits like Lewis. Upon arrival, he was greeted with a warm welcome that included a tour of the university’s state-of-the-art facilities. The facilities at Colorado have undergone significant upgrades in recent years, making them competitive with some of the best in the nation. Lewis and his family were shown around the Champion Center athletic complex, training rooms, and the newly renovated Folsom Field.

A key highlight of the visit was the opportunity for Lewis to sit down with Shedeur Sanders for a “legendary” picture. The Buffs “Grown” QB approach to mentoring is focusing on building character and leadership qualities in his teammates, which resonated deeply with Lewis. Sanders’ commitment to his personal and athletic development in noticeable this offseason as he ramps up to preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Additionally, Lewis was treated to a glimpse of life in Boulder, Colorado. The university’s scenic campus, set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, offers a unique environment that combines rigorous academics with a vibrant college town atmosphere. The natural beauty and recreational opportunities of Boulder were emphasized as part of the overall appeal of being at CU.

The official visit left a strong impression on Lewis and his family. Coach Prime’s dynamic leadership and the comprehensive support system at Colorado present a compelling case for why the university is an excellent choice for top-tier recruits. As Lewis continues to weigh his options, the time spent with Sanders and the Colorado football program will undoubtedly play a significant role in his decision-making process.

Voters around Colorado are coming out to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on the primary elections, which includes candidates for Congress and the state legislature.

Pueblo Democrats didn’t have any contested races for local seats, but Republican contests for their Congressional as well as a local state House seat are underway.

Here’s what to know about who is running. Check back on this page later for updates on what’s happening.

Who is running in the CO-3 Republican primary?

Six candidates are vying to be the Republican candidate in the race for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Pueblo, the San Luis Valley and most of the Western Slope.

Puebloan Stephen Varela emerged as top candidate at the CO-4 assembly in April. Ron Hanks, who wasn’t far behind Varela at the assembly, won the controversial endorsement of the state GOP. Grand Junction attorney Jeff Hurd has raised the most among all of the GOP candidates, with over $1 million of contributions reported.

Also in the running are Russ Andrews, a financial advisor from Carbondale; Curtis McCrackin, a businessman from Delta and Lew Webb, a businessman from the Durango area.

The incumbent in CO-3, Republican Lauren Boebert, decided to move to another, more conservative congressional district late last year. Boebert was the top-place candidate at the CO-4 assembly in April.

The winner will face Democrat Adam Frisch in November. Frisch has been the only Democrat running in their primary for months and has raised about $13.2 millions since officially announcing his candidacy over a year ago.

Frisch was 546 votes shy of defeating Boebert in November 2022, a result that surprised many in a district considered relatively safe for Republicans.

Who is in the HD-46 Republican primary?

Christina Mascarenas and Kim Swearingen are the two Republicans facing each other in the primary

The winner will face incumbent Democrat Tisha Mauro in November, who was unchallenged in her party’s primary.

Mauro has been the representative for HD-46 for two legislative sessions. The district includes most of the city of Pueblo with the exception of Bessemer and the East Side, parts of the St. Charles Mesa community and the southwestern quadrant of Pueblo County.

No local Democratic races are contested

The only contest with multiple candidates on local Democratic primary ballots is between two candidates running for University of Colorado regent at-large: all of the other races have just one candidate.

Daneya Esgar is running for her first four-year term as a Pueblo County Commissioner after being appointed to the seat by a group of local Democrats last year. Miles Lucero is challenging incumbent (and former Democrat) Epimenio “Eppie” Griego for the other seat on the BOCC that will go to voters this fall.

Pueblo’s two Democratic incumbent representatives in the state House, Tisha Mauro and Matt Martinez, are running unopposed.

Frisch is running alone in this primary in CO-3, as are the Democratic candidates for the state board of education and University of Colorado regent in this district.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.