The Republican-leaning 3rd CD covers most of Colorado’s Western Slope and parts of Southern Colorado, including Pueblo County and the San Luis Valley. Its major cities are Grand Junction, Pueblo, Durango and Aspen.
Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has represented the seat for two terms but this year moved across the state to the 4th Congressional District, where she’s running for a third term. Democrat Adam Frisch, who came within fewer than 600 votes of beating Boebert in 2022, is unopposed for his party’s nomination.
Democrats: 110,633;Republican: 147,938; Unaffiliated: 233,727; Total active voters: 502,200
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Name: Stephen A. Varela
Phone number:720-772-7769
Email: info@stephenvarelaforcolorado.com
Website: StephenVarelaforColorado.com
Mailing address: PO Box 814, Pueblo, CO 81002
Education: Master’s in Social Work, University of Southern California, 2016; Bachelor’s degree, Colorado State University, Pueblo, 2013
Why should the voters elect you to office?
I am a battle-test conservative, combat veteran, Hispanic family man, and former Democrat accustomed to taking on tough challenges. I aim to restore appreciation for American exceptionalism and am working to promote unity among Republicans and conservatives. I support Donald Trump and, like Trump, support Speaker Johnson. I currently represent CD 3 on the State Board of Education, where I promote education choice and oppose the far-left, woke agenda that seeks to indoctrinate our kids.
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
My top priority is to close and secure the border. Why? Because this is something that can be accomplished quickly and with minimal cost: build more wall, hire more border agents and immigration judges, reinstate Trump’s “remain in Mexico” policy, deport people who cross illegally, and shut down the cartels who have flooded our nation with fentanyl. This can be paid for by reclaiming unused COVID funds and repealing Biden’s expensive “green new deal” fantasies.
Name: Ron Hanks
Email: HanksForColorado@proton.me
Website: HanksForColorado.com
Mailing address: PO Box 117; Penrose, CO 81240
Why should the voters elect you to office?
I am the only Pro-Trump, MAGA candidate with a proven conservative record. I'm a former state representative, and a 32 year military veteran with broad experience in national security — and the problems we face in America today are ALL national security. We must re-secure our borders, rebuild our energy dominance, restore American manufacturing, and secure America's agriculture and food supply.
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
Secure the border — by electing a conservative Speaker of the House who will not sandbag President Trump's immediate effort to do so. We will fund the constitutional functions of government the way they should always be funded: The budget for each department must be voted on separately. No more continuing resolutions or omnibus spending bills, and, we must audit the federal reserve.
Name: Lew Webb
Email: info@lewwebb.com
Website: lewwebb.com
Mailing address: 10 Town Plaza, No. 69, Durango, CO 81301
Education: High school diploma, Los Alamitos High School, 1976; attended Whitworth College in Spokane, transferred to the University of Southern California
Why should the voters elect you to office?
I believe I’m the right guy for the job, because I’m not a politician and don’t want to be one. I believe it is “politicians” that have led us down the path to the mess we’re in to begin with. I’m a retired business guy, and understand that the salvation of our country lies in getting back to following our foundational documents. If we keep doing the same things, we’ll keep getting the same results!
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
My top priority is to get back to following our Constitution, which did not allow for spending a dime on any special interest. What made America the most powerful, successful and philanthropic Nation that has ever existed was an incredibly strong work ethic, and self reliance, not reliance on government redistribution. Not spending money we were never intended to spend will fund America’s resurgence! Not easy, but saving America for our posterity is worth it!
Name: Russ Andrews
Phone number: 970-618-2168
Email: campaign@russforcd3.com
Website: russ4cd3.com
Mailing address: 331 Buck Point Rd Carbondale, CO 81623
Education: Bachelor of Engineering, Marine Engineering degree from SUNY Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, The Bronx, 1983
Why should the voters elect you to office?
Because I don’t need the job. I have had a political/financial radio show in the Roaring Fork valley for 15 years, over which time I have developed more than 30 platform planks, all of which are designed to improve the lives of people living on the Western Slope of CO. I have signed a pledge not to serve more than three terms (6 years). I want to serve my constituents and enact legislation that benefits Western Colorado.
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
My top three priorities are securing the southern border, taming inflation while boosting the economy, and incentivizing private industry to harvest at least ⅓ of the 900 million dead beetle-kill trees that are rotting away over 5.1 million acres of Colorado forests.
Name: Curtis M. McCrackin
Phone number: 970-250-4142
Email: curtis@mcrackinforcongress.com
Website: mccrackinforcongress.com
Why should the voters elect you to office?
I think voters should elect me because our current leaders are not being good stewards of our money and I will advocate for real change in this regard.
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
My top issue is to stop much of the government funding, not find more ways to spend.
Name: Jeff Hurd
Phone number: 970-579-0190
Email: info@jeffhurdforcolorado.com
Website: jeffhurdforcolorado.com
Mailing address: 2695 Patterson Road, Suite 2-287, Grand Junction, CO 81506
Education: Diploma, 1997, Grand Junction High School; Bachelor's degree, University of Notre Dame, 2001; J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2008; LL.M., Columbia Law School,2010
Why should the voters elect you to office?
No one will work harder than me — or more effectively — to make life better for western and southern Colorado. Rural Colorado needs serious leadership; without it we’ll be left behind. As the candidate who grew up in the district, who works here, and who is raising his children here, I know the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. I will be laser focused on the border, improving the economy, and protecting water and agriculture.
What is your top priority if elected and how will it be funded?
My top priority is securing the southern border of the United States. We must stop the flow of illegal immigration, drugs, and crime coming into our communities. Our federal government must enforce existing laws, and give Border Patrol and law enforcement the resources necessary to enforce those laws. Adequate funding already exists to accomplish these critical priorities, and in fact enforcement of the law should result in an overall decrease in required funding.
Editor’s note: Candidates are listed in the order they appear on ballots. Active voter registration numbers are current as of the Colorado Secretary of State’s update on June 3, 2024.
