Aspen’s Alex Kelloff Raises Over $1 Million for Colorado 3rd District GOP Primary

Democratic candidates in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District are betting on small donors and their own pockets to unseat Republican incumbent Jeff Hurd, while Hurd’s own war chest is heavily bolstered by political action committees and GOP warchests.

The money trail reveals a stark contrast in strategy for the June 30 primary. As the race heats up, the question isn't just who has the cash, but where that cash is coming from and what it says about the viability of a Western Slope native challenging a incumbent who won by nearly 20,000 votes in 2024.

Alex Kelloff, the Aspen-area businessman and co-founder of Armada Skis, has emerged as the financial leader among the Democrats. As of the end of March, Kelloff had raised $1,047,267. That figure is more than double what his Democratic rival, Dwayne Romero, has pulled in.

But Kelloff’s total isn't just about big checks from wealthy benefactors. Half of his funds — $592,267 — came from individual contributions. He has also spent $589,205, with costs ticking up for payroll, travel, digital advertising, and campaign consulting.

The source of that money matters. Kelloff has raised $557,492 specifically from Colorado-based donors. Another $450,000 came from money he loaned directly to his own campaign. It’s a self-reliant approach for a man whose family roots on the Western Slope date back to the 1890s.

Kelloff isn’t entirely flying solo. He received $5,000 from Common Ground PAC, a group led by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine that focuses on electing moderate Democrats. The PAC’s website promises leaders focused on “economic opportunity, not partisan politics.”

Notable names have also dipped into their own pockets. Former U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the last Democrat to hold the seat before Hurd, donated $500. Diane Mitsch Bush, who ran for the same seat in 2018 and 2020 and lost both times, contributed $100.

Romero, a 30-year Aspen resident and owner of Romero Realty, is playing a smaller financial game. He’s a former U.S. Army Ranger and current Aspen City Council member, but his fundraising numbers trail Kelloff significantly.

The district itself is a massive geographic stretch. It covers the northwestern corner of Colorado, runs through most of the Western Slope, and swings east to include Pueblo. Roughly half of its registered voters are unaffiliated, but the district favors Republicans. It hasn’t been represented by a Democrat since 2011.

Hurd won his election in 2024 by nearly 20,000 votes. He now faces his own primary challenger, former state lawmaker Ron Hanks.

The numbers back up the need for deep pockets. Kelloff’s ability to loan himself $450,000 suggests a high degree of confidence in his own fundraising ability. But can that self-funding translate to votes in a district that has voted Republican for over a decade?

“Kelloff has raised $557,492 from Colorado-based donations,” the filings show. That local focus is crucial for a candidate trying to bridge the gap between the Roaring Fork Valley and Pueblo.

Hurd, meanwhile, has raised a significant chunk from political committees and GOP warchets. The disparity is clear: Democrats are relying on small donors and self-funding, while the Republican incumbent has a more institutional financial engine.

As the June 30 primary approaches, the money is only part of the story. The real test will be whether Kelloff’s local roots and self-funded war chest can overcome the district’s Republican lean.

“Hurd won his election in 2024 by nearly 20,000 votes,” the data shows. That’s a lot of votes to overcome.

The question is whether Kelloff’s $1 million+ haul, combined with his local name recognition, is enough to make a dent. The outcome remains uncertain.