The Colorado Democratic Party’s mailer in the 3rd Congressional District appears aimed at boosting the Libertarian candidate

The Democratic Party of Colorado sent voters in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District a mailer that appeared aimed at convincing them to support the Libertarian candidate in the race, in order to shift support from the Republican candidate.

The missive contains a photo of James Wiley and labels the Pueblo libertarian “the strongest Trump supporter in the race.” It also includes a photo of Republican Jeff Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, calling him “a corporate lawyer who won’t take a position on immigration or Trump.”

Adam Frisch, the Democrat running in the 3rd District, also appears in the mailer and is labeled as an “independent small businessman.”

The 3rd District, which stretches from the Western Slope to Pueblo and southeastern Colorado, leans Republican. It is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who is running for re-election in the 4th Congressional District on the other side of the state.

Fresh, who lost to Boebert by 546 votes in 2022is expected to be competitive in the 3rd District despite his GOP lean due to his fundraising prowess and moderate positions. Hurd is a new candidate with a low profile. He has declined to say whether he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 or will vote for him this year.

On social media, Wiley Thank you Democrats for promoting his campaign.

Democrats appear to see a path to victory by convincing Republican voters, who would never support a Democrat, to elect a Libertarian in the Third District this year.

“More Republican and unaffiliated voters in the primary (GOP) voted for candidates other than Jeff Hurd, so it’s clear voters in that race want another choice,” Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Shad Murib said Monday in an interview.

The Colorado Democratic Party reported spending more than $250,000 on mailers in support of Frisch this month. Murib said the mailer was sent to a “pretty broad range” of voters, though he did not elaborate.

Nick Bayer, a consultant who worked for Hurd’s campaign, condemned the mailer in a written statement. He said Hurd is focused on “talking about the issues that matter to CD3 voters every day” rather than on campaign tactics.

The Frisch campaign, which donated $115,000 to the party this month, denied any involvement in the mailing. But during this year’s Republican primary in the 3rd District, Frisch bought TV ads intended to convince voters to support one of Hurd’s five Republican opponents because the Frisch campaign viewed them as easier to defeat in November. The ads specifically raised the profile of former state Rep. Ron Hanks, an election denier.

The Frisch campaign’s primary ads contributed to $900,000 in spending during the Republican primaries by Rocky Mountain Values ​​PAC, a Democratic group that bought TV and radio spots, as well as mailers and newspaper ads. Raising Hank’s profile in the district and attacking Hurd.

Hannah Goodman, chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party, wrote the mailer as usual on politics. She doesn’t think sending the race to Frisch will be effective.

“It’s almost like dumping a huge donation on his lap,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of what a gift and blessing that truly is.”

The Sun also obtained copies of two other mailers recently distributed in the district questioning Hurd’s Republican bona fides, although it is unclear who is behind them.

A mailer says Hurd “will not support Trump’s immigration plan.” another says “he disagrees with the aggressive enforcement of our laws and even favors giving citizenship to illegal aliens.”

The mailers do not reveal the sender. The Frisch campaign and the Colorado Democratic Party denied sending the mail pieces.

The lack of disclosure may violate federal campaign finance law.

Libertarian candidates previously appeared to be playing spoiler in Colorado.

In 2022, the Libertarian candidate in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District turned the race on its head after winning 9,280 votes, or 4% of the total. Democrat Yadira Caraveo defeated her Republican opponentsays Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, with about 1,600 votes — or less than a percentage point — in the district that stretches from Denver’s northeastern suburbs along US 85 to Greeley.

There are several Republican candidates running this year have signed a pledge founded by the Colorado Libertarian Party in exchange for the Libertarian candidate dropping out of their race. Hurd rejected to sign it.

Type of story: News

Based on facts, either directly observed and verified by the reporter, or reported and verified from expert sources.