President Donald Trump has persuaded GOP congressional candidate Hope Scheppelman to drop her congressional campaign in Colorado, offering her a role in his administration and throwing his support behind incumbent opponent Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) instead.
Trump announced on Friday that he convinced Scheppelman to withdraw from the GOP primary for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, only after endorsing her, over Hurd, earlier this year.
“I met with Hope Scheppelman and her husband Steven, of the Radical Left State of Colorado, to discuss various opportunities to serve our Country in a different capacity than her current run for the United States Congress. Hope and Steven are wonderful and patriotic Veterans of our U.S. Navy, and loyal supporters of our Historic MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Movement. Therefore, I am proud to announce that they will be leaving the Campaign trail in order to join my Administration, in a capacity to be determined,” Trump
wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The strategic move by Trump avoids a costly and bitter congressional campaign for the two Republicans in a House seat that Democrats have been targeting in November’s midterm elections.
Trump’s endorsement of Hurd comes after he once described him as a “RINO,” or Republican In Name Only,
claiming that Hurd was “one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down.”
Trump has now insisted that Hurd “should in no way, shape, or form, be impeded from winning the District,” saying a Democrat win would be a "disaster" for the country.
“It is time to stand together against the people that want to destroy our Great Nation, and vote for Jeff Hurd, who will do a fantastic job as your Congressman, including Growing the Economy, Cutting Taxes and Regulations, Promoting MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advancing American Energy DOMINANCE, Keeping our Border SECURE, Supporting our Military/Veterans, Defending our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensuring PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump
wrote on Truth Social.Hurd, in response, said he’s grateful for Trump’s support and efforts to unite Republicans in the district, noting he shares the same goals as the president.
“I will continue to focus on representing Colorado’s Third District, delivering results for rural Colorado, and running a serious campaign to earn the support of voters across the district,” Hurd
wrote on X.
Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs this November. Currently, Republicans have a 218-214 majority in the House, with three vacancies. Democrats this November need to gain a net of three districts to win a majority in the House,
according to election tracker Ballotpedia, while Republicans can lose no more than two seats to retain a majority in the chamber.
