President Donald Trump officially re-endorsed Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd on Friday, a move that effectively clears the path for the Colorado representative just weeks after the president had publicly pulled his support.
The reversal comes alongside the news that Hurd’s primary challenger, Navy veteran and former Colorado GOP vice chair Hope Scheppelman, is ending her campaign to join the Trump administration.
In a post on Truth Social, the president detailed a meeting with Scheppelman and her husband, Steven, noting that they discussed opportunities for her to serve the country “in a different capacity than her current run.”
Trump stated that the group collectively decided Hurd should not be “impeded” in his reelection bid, characterizing the Democratic opposition in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District as a “disaster.”
The political whiplash follows a February fallout where the president labeled Hurd a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only). That initial withdrawal of support was triggered by Hurd joining six other Republicans and House Democrats in a resolution to repeal tariffs on Canada. At that time, Trump accused Hurd of prioritizing foreign interests over the United States and shifted his “complete and total endorsement” to Scheppelman.
However, the tone shifted entirely Friday. “I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives,” Trump wrote, calling on “every true MAGA supporter” to unify behind the congressman to defeat “Radical Left Democrats” in the upcoming November election.
Hurd responded to the news on X, expressing gratitude for the president’s efforts to unify the party. “The President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families,” Hurd stated, adding that he remains focused on delivering results for rural Colorado.
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With the state’s filing deadline having passed this week, no other candidates can enter the Republican primary. This development leaves Hurd running unopposed for the nomination, essentially securing his spot on the June 30 ballot.
While the specific role Scheppelman will take within the administration remains “to be determined,” her exit effectively ends what was expected to be a contentious primary battle.
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