By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice
The dance card is filling up in the 3rd District’s primary election to select the Western Slope’s Republican nominee to potentially become the next representative in Congress.
Russ Andrews and Lew Webb were added to the list of hopefuls to receive the party’s nomination to the general election on Wednesday, when the Secretary of State’s office announced their qualifications to the ballot.
The seat is presently held by Rep. Lauren Boebert, who relocated to Windsor in the 4th District and is vying for the Republican nomination in that primary. It is the only Republican field larger than the 3rd District. Boebert had an opportunity to run for the Republican nomination in the 4th District’s special election to replace ex-Rep. Ken Buck, but said doing so could have potentially left the 3rd District without representation.
Stephen Varela and Ron Hanks each earned their way on the ballot at the 3rd District assembly in Pueblo. Curtis McCrackin was the first to earn a place on the 3rd District Republican ballot, with his petition certified March 5. Jeff Hurd earned his way onto the ballot April 10, through a successful petition.
That left the count at four qualified candidates before Wednesday, when Andrews and Webb were each added. Andrews submitted 3,931 signatures, of which 56.6% (2,224 signatures) were accepted. Webb submitted 3,199 signatures, of which 55.8% (1,784 signatures) were accepted. Candidates petitioning for a place on the ballot for the U.S. House of Respresentatives must meet a threshold of 1,500 qualified signatures.
A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection is on file with the Secretary of State.
One additional Republican candidate, Joe Granado, has submitted a petition for a place on the ballot in the 3rd District U.S. House race. The Secretary of State’s office has not announced a decision on whether his petition qualified.
Colorado’s 3rd District is the state’s largest, in terms of both counties and land mass. It ranges across more than one-third of the state’s 100,000 square-miles of land.