The day after his primary opponent switched to run in another congressional district across the state, Republican Jeff Hurd unveiled new endorsements from two Colorado state lawmakers.
The statements of support from state Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, and state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, are the latest in a string of endorsements Hurd has received from current and former GOP elected officials since the Grand Junction attorney launched a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the Western Slope-based 3rd Congressional District.
Boebert dropped a political bombshell late Wednesday when she announced she will instead seek a third term in Congress in the more favorable 4th Congressional District, the state’s most heavily Republican seat, covering Douglas County, parts of Larimer and Weld counties and the Eastern Plains.
Lundeen and Kirkmeyer each characterized Hurd as a “leader of character” in statements released on Thursday by Hurd’s campaign.
Boebert has come under fire from fellow Republicans since she was ejected from a performance of the musical “Beetlejuice” in Denver in September for vaping and causing a disturbance. Surveillance footage also showed Boebert and her date groping each other in the crowded theater.
“It is time to turn the page on the primary and unify in order to hold the seat,” said Lundeen, who called Hurd “a hard working and sincere individual who will fight for the important needs of the people of the 3rd Congressional District.”
“He will strengthen our agricultural producers, protect our energy producers, fight for Colorado water, and always ensure that Western and Southern Colorado has a seat at the table,” Lundeen said. “Jeff will represent us honorably and is a true leader of character.”
Kirkmeyer, last year’s Republican nominee in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, said she was supporting Hurd because the district needs “a strong Republican who can unify the party and hold the seat against Adam Frisch and the liberals.”
“Jeff will fight for our state and the district, making sure to secure our border, protect our water, fight for our agricultural producers, and push for energy independence. Jeff is hardworking and a leader of character — he will always represent us honorably,” Kirkmeyer added.
Boebert’s move to the other district leaves only Hurd and Russ Andrews — a largely self-funding candidate from Carbondale — in the 3rd CD’s Republican primary. It’s likely more candidates will emerge in coming weeks.
Other Hurd endorsers include former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, former Mesa State University President Tim Foster, former Colorado Springs Mayor and former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, former Colorado State Treasurer Mark Hillman, former U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn and former University of Colorado President Bruce Benson.
A number of county commissioners from across the sprawling 3rd CD also endorsed the first-time candidate before Boebert jumped races.
Boebert won election to a second term last year by just 546 votes in the closest congressional race in the country.
The Democratic nominee she defeated, former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch, was seeking a rematch with Boebert next year. Through September, Frisch had outraised Boebert by more than $5 million, setting records for campaign fundraising in the state.
A poll of likely voters released in August by Frisch’s campaign showed Boebert and Frisch in a statistical dead heat, with Frisch leading by 2 percentage points, within the survey’s margin of error.
Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout is also seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat. A handful of third-party candidates have also declared, including Libertarian James Wiley.
The primary is June 25.
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