By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Colorado Republicans have had some inner-party drama this year. But, teamwork is possible. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Hurd are proving it.
In a joint press release, the two pledge a smooth transition of leadership for Colorado’s 3rd U.S. House District. Boebert presently serves in the seat. Hurd will serve in the seat come January. They both express confidence in each other and their teams.
“As legislators wrap up our work for the 118th Congress, it is critically important that the people of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District experience a smooth transition of representation as Congressman-elect Jeff Hurd begins his term in January,” says Boebert.
The congresswoman highlights ongoing collaboration, noting, “Congressman-elect Hurd and I, as well as our teams, have been in constant communication regarding legislation, case work, offices and constituent information to make sure his team can hit the ground running.”
Hurd acknowledges Boebert’s efforts to ensure a seamless handoff.
“I’m honored to begin officially serving the people of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in January, but the work to ensure an effective transition of leadership has already begun,” he says. “I’m grateful to Congresswoman Boebert for her willingness to collaborate on this process and make sure our team has the tools and knowledge necessary to start our constituent work as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
The cooperative spirit is notable in a year of intraparty conflicts, where twice a faction of the Republican Central Committee attempted to remove the state party chairman.
Both Boebert and Hurd claimed significant victory. Boebert won her race in the 4th Congressional District with 237,923 votes (53.7%). She leads Democrat Trish Calvarese, who earned 185,874 votes. In the plus-13 Republican district, Boebert likely would have earned an even more decisive victory if Libertarian Party Chairwoman Hannah Goodman did not claim 2.6% of the vote.
Boebert’s current legislative priorities reflect her conservative platform. She stresses border security, supporting H.R. 2 and promoting the “Build the Wall & Deport Them All” Act to restore Trump-era policies. On energy, she opposes the Green New Deal and backs Colorado’s oil, natural gas and nuclear energy industries.
She prioritizes water infrastructure, securing funding for projects benefiting ranchers and farmers.
Boebert targets “Bidenomics”, calling for cuts to spending, taxes and inflation. A staunch defender of 2nd Amendment rights, she champions gun ownership freedoms. She wants more parental control over school curricula. Her reform agenda includes single-subject bills and greater legislative transparency.
Boebert has an isolationist foreign policy. She supports Israel but wants to cut international aid.
On abortion, she supports a 22-week limit. She defends her vote against the PACT Act. She cites fiscal responsibility, but she is committed to veterans’ needs.
It all adds up to a near perfect fit in the 4th District, where she defeated a pack of entrenched Republicans by nearly 30% in the primary.
Meanwhile, Hurd secured the 3rd District seat with approximately 12,000 votes over Democrat Adam Frisch. This winning margin underscores his strong support as a newcomer.
Hurd’s priorities focus on practical solutions for Colorado’s challenges. He emphasizes border security, advocates for resuming border wall construction and using advanced technologies for monitoring. On energy, he supports developing oil, natural gas and renewable resources. He also champions policies that help small businesses thrive, especially in rural areas.
Hurd aims to protect water, speed up federal permits for key projects,and strengthen partnerships with farmers. He prioritizes fiscal responsibility, backing a balanced budget amendment and greater transparency in the budget process.
His proposals for congressional reform include limiting omnibus bills and increasing accountability.
Hurd aims to improve rural healthcare access and stabilize costs for facilities like Delta Health. He’s committed to making housing more affordable. He’ll advocate for streamlined zoning and tax incentives for developers. Hurd also supports new tech, like blockchain and crypto, to keep the U.S. competitive.
Hurd backs school choice, including funding for private, charter and religious schools.
“I look forward to working with Congressman-elect Hurd on renewing America’s energy independence, improving the storage and management of water in Colorado, and securing our Southern Border to protect Colorado families from dangerous criminals and fentanyl,” Boebert said.
Hurd echoes her focus on outreach and constituent services, adding, “Coloradans from the Western Slope to Pueblo should know our team is committed to being present in communities and working with constituents of all backgrounds from day one.”
As part of the transition, Boebert’s team is sharing casework files, contact information and district data with Hurd’s office. Boebert is one of the few members of Congress to keep a running record of her district office hours and results.
Together, Boebert and Hurd want to ensure the 3rd District is represented without interruption as a new Congress is seated in January.