Trump convinces GOP primary challenger to drop bid for Colorado House seat |
Trump convinces GOP primary challenger to drop bid for Colorado House seat
President Trump announced on Friday that he met with a primary challenger of Rep. Jeff Hurd’s (R-Colo.) and was able to get her to drop her bid as Republicans look to avoid a nasty contest in a House race that Democrats are eyeing this November.
Trump said in a Truth Social post that he had met with Hope Scheppelman, a critical care nurse practitioner who aligned herself closely with the president, and her husband “to discuss various opportunities to serve our Country in a different capacity than her current run for the United States Congress.”
Trump said Scheppelman would be suspending her campaign bid to join his administration “in a capacity to be determined.”
“Together with them, we decided that Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, should in no way, shape, or form, be impeded from winning the District in that the Democrat alternative is a DISASTER for our Country,” he wrote.
“Therefore, I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives, giving him my Complete and Total Endorsement!” he added.
Hurd in a post on X said he was “grateful” to have Trump’s backing, adding “the President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families.”
Trump’s post is notable given that several weeks ago, the president had endorsed Scheppelman over Hurd, saying in a Truth Social post in February that “Congressman Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down.”
He argued Hurd was “more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is of the United States of America.”
Hurd represents a massive House district in western Colorado, which went for Trump by about 10 points, according to The Downballot.
While the district favors Republicans, Democrats have come within striking distance of flipping it in recent years.
Democrats elevated a hardline conservative in the GOP primary for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District last cycle against Hurd, who was running for the first time, though the strategy failed and Hurd won his primary and the general election in 2024.
But Democrats still see the western Colorado district as a potential pickup opportunity. Trump’s decision to nix what could have become a nasty GOP primary helps ease the path for Hurd as he looks toward reelection in November.
The Hill has reached out to Scheppelman’s campaign for comment.
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