Jeff Hurd stays true to his conservative message in the race for District 3

Jeff Hurd, the Republican candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, will face Democrat Adam Frisch in the November general election. Hurd spoke with KVNF about his interest in politics, his top priorities and his stance on abortion rights.

Lisa youngCan you tell our listeners a little about yourself?

Jeff Hurd: Absolutely. I’m a native of Colorado. I grew up here in Western Colorado, in Grand Junction. I’m an attorney for electric cooperatives, and I work primarily with rural communities in Western Colorado, trying to improve their lives and the lives of the hard-working people, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners in this part of the state.

I’m a family man. I have five children. I’m raising them here in Mesa County with my wife, Barbara. She’s a naturalized citizen, actually, originally from communist Czechoslovakia. This is my first run. I’ve never run for anything before, not even dog sitting. But I’m running to create economic opportunities for rural Colorado.

I feel like we are being left behind and I want to create more jobs and more opportunities for our children and our grandchildren to be able, if they choose, to stay, live and thrive in rural Colorado.

Young: Tell us a little about your involvement in politics. Did you get involved at a very young age and then things evolved or is it just a recent interest, according to the things you just said?

Hurd: Well, it’s mostly about seeing opportunities here in rural Colorado, primarily through my law practice. I got to see some of the challenges that rural Colorado is facing, but also some of those opportunities. You know, our energy industry has been hit hard. And I see that firsthand and I see it not only in the loss of jobs, but also in the rising energy costs that we’re facing here in Colorado. That affects everyone from the cost of gas that you put in your car to the grocery bill that you pay to energy costs in rural Colorado.

And through the work that I’m doing in the energy industry with rural cooperatives, I saw an opportunity for someone to come in and make a change that would help lower those costs, keep those jobs, and improve life in southern and western Colorado. And that’s what primarily led me to get into the race.

Young: During your campaign, who are you targeting and where will you go next?

Hurd: Well, I’m reaching out to anyone who can potentially support my race and my campaign and who has a vision for a better Colorado, a rural Colorado.

We try to be active on social media, like Facebook and Twitter. I’m that age and I’m old enough that I’m not particularly active on social media, but I now recognize that it’s a key way to reach voters. We also have newsletters that let people know where I’ve been and where I’ll be.

Signing up online and following me on social media are great ways to see where we’re headed. Last week I was, in fact in the last 48 hours I was in Montrose County twice for events, and then I had an event here in Mesa County, my home county, on Friday night. I’ll be in Pueblo next week.

So it’s a very full schedule. It’s a big district, so there’s a lot of travel, a lot of miles in the Suburban. So yes, I encourage people to follow me on social media, sign up for email updates, and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

Young: If elected, what would be some of your top priorities and what are you talking about on the campaign trail?

Hurd: The top priorities that I hear and that I’ve taken into account in my campaign are, first of all, securing the border. We are a nation of immigrants, yes, but we are also a nation of laws. And I think we need to work hard to secure our borders, to stop the flow of drugs and crime coming across our borders. I mean, we hear the stories that are happening in Denver. And that is, I think, something that rural Coloradans are concerned about, and rightly so, they’re coming to rural Colorado as well.

Energy independence, which ensures the growth of our energy economy, is something I believe most rural Coloradans care about and something I will definitely advocate for when I am in Congress.

And last but not least is the protection of water and agriculture. Our farmers and ranchers are the foundation of who we are as Coloradans. They contribute so much to our economy with some of the best environmentalists we have, and they are also a fundamental part of our identity of what it means to be Coloradans.

So the border, energy, agriculture and water are my top priorities.

Young: Your opponent, Adam Frisch, supports a woman’s right to choose abortion. What is your position on abortion rights?

Hurd: I’m pro-life. I believe in exceptions, but I generally think this is an issue that should be left up to the states. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution from Washington, D.C. And I will tell you that when I’m on the campaign trail, I don’t hear a lot of talk about abortion. I hear more about jobs, energy, border security, water protection, and agriculture. So when I’m in Congress, those will certainly be my priorities. And that’s what I think people here care about most.

Young: Is there anything you would like to add to today’s conversation?

Hurd: I guess I would say that if people are looking for a candidate who is sincere, hard-working, and authentic, someone who will say what they believe and work hard to make life better for their children and grandchildren, I would be honored to have your vote. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I am someone who is willing to listen and work hard to make life better for families and small businesses in southern and western Colorado and people who care about that. I would be honored to have your vote.

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