Romero Leads Hurd in Colorado's 3rd District
Preliminary returns show Democrat Dwayne Romero ahead of incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd in the race for the seat.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Political Parties
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Preliminary results showed Democratic candidate Dwayne Romero holding 50% of the vote to Rep. Jeff Hurd's 47% in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District as of 8:04 p.m. Tuesday, with 48% of district votes reported. Romero's lead was reported in waves as ballots were tabulated.
Why it matters
The district has been held by a Republican since 2011, making the preliminary returns a notable test in a seat the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lists as "at play." Results for the rest of the district will determine whether the early lead holds.
With 48% of Colorado's 3rd District votes reported, Romero held 50% to Hurd's 47%, a reversal from Hurd's just-under-5-point win in 2024. Roughly half the district's ballots remained uncounted at the time of the preliminary results.
The players
Dwayne Romero
Democratic candidate who previously served four years on the Aspen City Council and six years in the military.
Jeff Hurd
Republican incumbent representing Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, a Grand Junction native who has held the seat since 2011.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Party's congressional campaign arm, which listed Colorado's 3rd District as a "district at play" in this cycle.
The details
In La Plata County, Romero held nearly 63% of the vote to Hurd's 35%, and that first wave of results accounted for 62% of the county's total ballots. Hurd lost Trump's endorsement earlier this year over his criticism of tariff policies but regained it about a month later.
Timeline
Oct. 23: A DCCC internal poll showed Romero leading Hurd by one percentage point.
Earlier this year: Hurd lost Trump's endorsement over tariff criticism.
About one month later: Hurd regained Trump's endorsement.
Tuesday, 8:04 p.m. Mountain Time: Preliminary results showed Romero at 50% and Hurd at 47%.
Political Context
The Republican margin in the district has narrowed from Boebert's roughly 6-point win in 2020 to Hurd's just under 5-point win in 2024. Preliminary returns showing Romero ahead would mark a further shift if they hold.
Voters in the district will see the final result determine which candidate represents them in Congress for the next term. Residents across the district's counties will have a say in whether the early shift toward Romero holds once all ballots are counted.
The takeaway
Early returns can shift as more ballots are counted, so the Colorado 3rd District outcome will depend on results still to come from across the district.
Further reading
For broader context on how the state's major parties are organizing ahead of the vote, see Political Parties coverage.
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