By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Jeff Hurd’s telephone rang at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, a little more than 24 hours after polls closed on Election Day.
On the other end of the phone was his opponent, Democrat Adam Frisch.
Hurd had pulled out a close race into a 12,413-vote lead with less than 12% of ballots remaining to be counted.
“A few moments ago, I called to offer my congratulations to Jeff Hurd for being the next representative for Colorado’s 3rd [U.S. House] District,” Frisch wrote in a statement. “Elections are about showing up, and I traveled more than 75,000 miles this campaign, authentically connecting with people from Dinosaur to Durango, Manzanola to Mancos and everywhere in between.”
The campaign was about them, he said, expressing appreciation for the “outpouring of support I received.”
Potentially affecting his decision to concede may have been the 2.5% of the vote Libertarian James Wiley was able to take, amounting to 9,312 votes that could have been critical to either candidate.
“ I take on this service with a sense of duty and an unwavering commitment to the U.S. Constitution and to every resident of Colorado’s 3rd District,” Hurd said. “Together, we will focus on the issues that unite us: securing the border, unleashing Colorado energy, and protecting our water and agriculture. I am committed to listening, learning and acting in ways that honor the trust voters have placed in me.”
It is the second close loss for Frisch in as many election cycles. He also narrowly lost to Lauren Boebert in 2022 by 546 votes. Inspired by the close defeat, he almost immediately began raising money and campaigning again.
Even despite his $18 million war chest and four years of campaigning in the district, Frisch could not overcome the small town, hometown Grand Junction attorney who entered the race in the summer of 2023. Boebert announced later that year she would seek election in the 4th District, vacated by the retirement of Rep. Ken Buck.
Hurd, with patience and a steady, positive campaign, fought his way through a tough primary election against five other Republican candidates, and went on to beat Frisch.
Frisch had outraised Hurd by $16 million over the course of the race, a fact that Hurd noted from the stage at his watch party on Election Night. He also closed both of his debates earlier this fall by warning Frisch that, “You can have all the money in the world, and you do, and still lose this race.”
The race for Colorado’s 3rd District was at times very contentious, and as previously reported by this media outlet, down right nasty at times. When Frisch claimed that Hurd was going to steal water from western and southern Colorado, Hurd brought the receipts to call out the untrue allegations by producing a letter written by farmers and former and current elected officials denying the allegations.
When Frisch told his supporters throughout his campaign that he was not taking any corporate or PAC money, a quick review of his Federal Election Commission reporting documents revealed that was also untrue.
Perhaps, though, Frisch takes solace in election results which demonstrate he outperformed Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the district.
Although the district is rated a plus-7 for Republicans by Cook Politicial Report, the race was too close to call up until the point when Frisch conceded.
“I want to thank Adam Frisch for running a campaign that engaged voters across Colorado’s 3rd District,” Hurd said. “Our democracy thrives because of spirited, respectful elections like this one. It is through this process that the voice of the people is heard and respected, reinforcing the strength of our institutions and the ideals that define our nation.”
Added National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar, “Congratulations to Congressman-elect Jeff Hurd on his victory. Jeff’s experience as a small business owner and attorney has shown his dedication to Colorado, and he’s ready to take on Democrats’ agenda of higher costs, the war on energy, and a border crisis bringing drugs and crime to their backyard.”