--- title: "Romero vs. Hurd: 2026 Colorado’s 3rd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-co-03" updated: "2026-10-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Colorado’s 3rd District race: Dwayne Romero (D) vs. Jeff Hurd (R) Rating: Lean R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 1, 2026 Incumbent Republican Representative Jeff Hurd faces Democratic challenger Dwayne Romero in the 2026 general election for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. Hurd, who took office in 2025, is running for re-election on a platform focused on border security, small business deregulation, and energy independence. Romero, an Army veteran and small business owner, centers his campaign on lowering the cost of living, expanding healthcare, and protecting public lands and water rights. ## Candidates - **Dwayne Romero** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Dwayne_Romero) - **Jeff Hurd** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jeff_Hurd) ## Issues ### Cost of living and economy Salience: high Romero focuses on repealing federal tariffs and expanding family tax relief to lower immediate prices, while Hurd emphasizes small business deregulation and broader tax credits. **Dwayne Romero:** Supports tax credits and tariff repeals Romero views lowering household expenses as his central economic priority. He advocates repealing federal tariffs and expanding Family Tax Credits to assist working families with food, gas, and everyday costs. - Repeal current federal tariffs to reduce prices at the grocery store and pump. - Expand Family Tax Credits for working households. > “Affordability is at the top of my priority list.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) > “I’m going to fight to make it easier, starting with repealing these disastrous tariffs and expanding the Family Tax Credits.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Favors deregulation and tax relief Hurd emphasizes economic growth in rural Colorado by removing unnecessary federal regulations and creating a level playing field for small businesses. He supports the Child Tax Credit and targeted tax policy to help parents handle rising costs for childcare and basic necessities. - Target unnecessary federal regulations and mandates to help small businesses thrive. - Support the Child Tax Credit and tax credits for childcare costs. - Voted for H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) to address tax policy and debt limit provisions. > “Jeff’s top priority will be creating opportunities so rural Colorado economies can thrive.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) > “Jeff is open to balanced and thoughtful solutions that enable parents to work and raise their children.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Energy policy Salience: high Romero stresses a practical transition toward alternative renewables while preserving local production, whereas Hurd focuses on expanding traditional fossil fuels alongside renewables through aggressive federal permitting reform. **Dwayne Romero:** Supports pragmatic all-of-the-above transition Romero supports utilizing local traditional energy resources in CO-03 while actively expanding alternative energy projects. He advocates a measured transition window to keep energy reliable and affordable as demand grows. - Maintain production of legacy energy resources produced inside the district. - Advance deployment of alternative renewable energy technologies. - Adopt an all-of-the-above approach to handle growing electricity demands. > “An all-of-the-above approach is the only way we provide the reliable and affordable energy our communities need and deserve.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Promotes energy independence and permitting reform Hurd prioritizes energy independence through the development of traditional oil, natural gas, and low-carbon resources. He advocates for federal permitting and regulatory reforms to streamline energy projects and export energy to global allies. - Develop local oil and natural gas alongside competitive renewable energy resources. - Enact federal permitting reform to speed up traditional and clean energy construction. - Export U.S. energy resources to protect international allies from energy leverage by foreign powers. > “Low cost, abundant energy is good for Colorado and good for national security.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Water rights and resources Salience: high Romero focuses on preventing out-of-basin water transfers within the district, while Hurd focuses on forcing lower Colorado River Basin states to reduce consumption and streamlining permitting for water infrastructure. **Dwayne Romero:** Defends home basin water retention Drawing on his experience on a local water district board, Romero vows to protect Western Slope water resources. He opposes transfers of water out of home basins and seeks strict defense of Colorado's share under the Colorado River Compact. - Oppose attempts to divert water out of local home basins. - Protect Colorado's rights in ongoing Colorado River Compact disputes. - Address drought resilience through local district experience. > “Water is the key to life here in Colorado.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) > “We need someone in Congress who will hold the line for our district’s water resources. This is job number one.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Demands lower basin conservation compliance Hurd focuses on holding lower Colorado River Basin states accountable to live within their legal water allocations. He advocates streamlining federal permits for regional water development projects and eradicating invasive plant species like tamarisk. - Press lower Colorado River Basin users to stay within their water means. - Modify federal permitting laws to advance regional water infrastructure projects. - Eradicate water-guzzling non-native plant species like the tamarisk. > “Protecting Colorado water requires thoughtful advocacy.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Immigration and border security Salience: high Romero pairs border security with earned citizenship pathways and additional judges, whereas Hurd supports strict enforcement, mandatory detention, and expanded deportation criteria. **Dwayne Romero:** Supports comprehensive border reform and pathway Romero advocates for securing the border while establishing a path to citizenship for long-term, law-abiding community members. He supports hiring additional immigration judges to process asylum claims and detain dangerous individuals. - Provide a path to citizenship for long-standing, law-abiding immigrants. - Hire more immigration judges to manage judicial backlogs and detain bad actors. - Combine border enforcement with legal processing reform. > “I believe we can secure our border, uphold our values, and fix a broken system — all at the same time.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Favors strict enforcement and border closure Hurd considers the open border a national security emergency. He supports full resource allocation for Border Patrol and local law enforcement to stop drug trafficking, and voted for mandatory detention and deportation measures for undocumented immigrants convicted of offenses. - Secure the southern border immediately and increase resources for law enforcement. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5) requiring detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft crimes. - Voted for H.R.875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation. > “Our open border is a national security crisis and a massive political failure.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Agriculture and rural lands Salience: medium Romero focuses on federal Farm Bill legislation and prohibiting foreign acquisition of land and water, while Hurd emphasizes regulatory relief regarding grazing, land use, and wolf management. **Dwayne Romero:** Supports Farm Bill and foreign land restrictions Romero stresses the economic and cultural necessity of family farms and ranches. He calls for passing a comprehensive Farm Bill and restricting foreign individuals or entities from purchasing Colorado agricultural land and water rights. - Pass a robust federal Farm Bill to support rural economies. - Ban foreign entities from acquiring Colorado farmland and water resources. > “We must pass a robust Farm Bill and keep foreign entities out of Colorado water and farmland ownership.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Advocates for producer regulatory relief Hurd focuses on protecting farm and ranch livelihoods by reforming policies tied to grazing, federal regulations, trade, land use, and wolf reintroduction. He pledges support for both legacy producers and first-generation agricultural operators. - Protect agricultural livelihoods on issues involving grazing, land use, water, and federal regulations. - Address impacts on ranchers stemming from wolf reintroduction policies. - Defend family agricultural heritage and trade interests. > “Jeff will work hard to protect the livelihood of farmers and ranchers throughout rural Colorado—no matter the size, and whether they’re first-generation or legacy producers.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Public lands and environment Salience: medium Romero emphasizes opposing any land sales and increasing forest staffing, while Hurd focuses on committee oversight to facilitate multi-use economic resource development. **Dwayne Romero:** Opposes public land transfers and demands staffing Romero strongly opposes selling or transferring public lands to private owners. He advocates for restoring forest service field staffing levels in CO-03 and investing in firefighter resources to increase wildfire defense. - Block attempts to sell off or transfer federal public lands to private entities. - Restore national forest staffing levels across CO-03. - Expand support for local firefighters and wildfire mitigation. > “We need to oppose efforts to sell or transfer out public lands to private interests and support our firefighters and increase fire resilience.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Supports local natural resource management As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Hurd supports balanced management of public lands that maintains multi-use access for energy development, agriculture, and local economic needs. - Serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and chaired the Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. - Promotes local stakeholder involvement in public land management decisions. ### Veterans services Salience: medium Romero leans on his combat record to oppose VA budget cuts, while Hurd highlights his legislative spending vote for veterans affairs programs. **Dwayne Romero:** Opposes VA budget cuts and bureaucratic delays Romero, a combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient, stresses protecting military families and veterans from bureaucratic delays and budget cuts. He promises to streamline access to healthcare and benefit administration. - Eliminate bureaucratic delays for veterans accessing medical care and earned benefits. - Protect the Department of Veterans Affairs from federal funding cuts. > “I earned a Bronze Star in the Gulf War.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Supports funding for military construction and VA Hurd voted in favor of federal appropriations funding military construction and veterans affairs programs. - Voted for H.R.5371 providing appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. ### Government reform and ethics Salience: low Romero favors structural ethics laws like stock trading bans and term limits, while Hurd focuses on government disclosure legislation and limiting judicial injunction power. **Dwayne Romero:** Supports stock trading bans and congressional term limits Romero advocates ethics reforms to eliminate insider influence in Washington. His proposals include prohibiting stock trading by federal officials, establishing congressional term limits, banning dark money political contributions, and restricting former members from lobbying. - Ban congressional members and federal officials from trading stocks. - Enact federal term limits for members of Congress. - End dark money spending and restrict lobbying revolving doors. > “This includes banning all federal officials from trading stocks, ending dark money in political spending, enacting term limits, and closing the revolving door between Congress and cushy lobbyist gigs.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** Supports governmental transparency and judicial reforms Hurd supported congressional transparency measures, including voting to release Jeffrey Epstein investigation records and voting to restrict nationwide court injunctions. - Voted for H.R.4405 (Epstein Files Transparency Act) to publish unclassified investigative materials. - Voted for H.R.1526 (NORRA of 2025) to limit federal district courts from issuing nationwide injunctions. ### Healthcare and rural hospitals Salience: medium **Dwayne Romero:** Supports funding rural hospitals and drug negotiations Romero opposes federal cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and makes preserving rural hospitals a major campaign priority. He supports allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs and protecting access to reproductive healthcare. - Maintain federal funding to prevent rural hospital closures. - Authorize Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. - Protect women's access to reproductive healthcare services. > “We’ve got to keep rural hospitals open and funded, allow medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and protect women’s access to reproductive healthcare.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** No documented position in our sources ### Housing affordability Salience: medium **Dwayne Romero:** Restricts corporate purchases and cuts construction tape Romero aims to prevent institutional investment firms from purchasing single-family homes and driving up rent prices. He also supports reducing local construction red tape and directing investments toward housing in rural towns. - Block Wall Street corporations and institutional investment funds from buying up homes. - Streamline outdated red tape obstructing residential construction. - Invest directly in rural housing construction programs. > “Let’s stop Wall Street behemoths from buying up homes and driving up rents, repeal outdated red tape that hinders construction, and invest in housing construction in our rural communities.” > — Dwayne Romero, via [Campaign site](https://romeroforcolorado.com) **Jeff Hurd:** No documented position in our sources ### Emerging technology and cryptocurrency Salience: low **Dwayne Romero:** No documented position in our sources **Jeff Hurd:** Supports bipartisan regulatory framework for crypto Hurd promotes regulatory clarity for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations to protect consumers while keeping American tech competitive. He supported bipartisan legislation establishing oversight for payment stablecoins and digital assets. - Support sensible regulations for cryptocurrency and blockchain job creation. - Supported the FIT21 bill (H.R. 4763) for digital asset market regulation. - Voted for the GENIUS Act (S.1582) to establish a federal framework for payment stablecoins. > “In Congress, Jeff will fight to make sure that there are sensible regulations for advancing technologies like cryptocurrency, encouraging the innovation and job growth they bring, all while protecting the public from bad actors.” > — Jeff Hurd, via [Campaign site](https://jeffhurdforcolorado.com/) ### Elections and voting administration Salience: low **Dwayne Romero:** No documented position in our sources **Jeff Hurd:** Supports citizenship proof for voting Hurd voted to establish stricter federal voter registration criteria requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. - Voted for H.R. 22 (SAVE Act) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/co-03-house-election-winner) — CO-03 House Election Winner: Republicans 62.5%, Democrats 38.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSECO3-26) — CO-03 House winner?: Jeff Hurd 63.0%, Dwayne Romero 38.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-co-03)