Ron Hanks Outlines Policy Platform Against Jeff Hurd in Colorado 3rd District

What happens to the guy who’s been in office for a while when the guy who ran against him last time comes back for seconds?

That’s the question hanging over Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District as Republican voters head to the polls on June 30. They’re choosing between U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, the incumbent attorney from Grand Junction, and Ron Hanks, a former state lawmaker and Air Force veteran from Cañon City.

It’s a rematch of sorts, though they’ve never faced each other head-to-head. In 2024, Hurd defeated Hanks and four others in a crowded field after Lauren Boebert switched districts. Now, the race is down to two.

The district covers most of the Western Slope, stretching into Pueblo and southeastern Colorado. It’s predominantly rural. The concerns here are different from the urban centers to the east. Gas prices matter more. Farming matters more. And the question of whether Washington is listening to folks in the valley matters even more.

The Colorado Sun tried to pin down both candidates on the issues that actually keep people up at night: the war in Iran, immigration, healthcare, and childcare.

Hurd declined to participate.

That leaves Hanks to carry the weight of the argument. And he didn’t hold back.

When asked about gas prices, Hanks pointed to the levers Congress can pull. He’s looking at deregulation and boosting domestic production. It’s the standard Republican playbook, but it’s the only one that resonates with drivers watching pump prices climb while they commute down I-70.

Healthcare is another flashpoint. Hanks supports repealing the Affordable Care Act. But he’s not just talking about tearing it down; he’s talking about what goes in its place. He wants a system that’s more market-driven. Critics say that’s a gamble for folks with pre-existing conditions. Hanks says it’s about choice.

Then there’s the tax and spending bill, H.R. 1. Congress passed it, and it imposed work requirements for Medicaid. It also eliminated some tax credits for Obamacare plans. Hanks supported it. Why? Because he believes the current system is broken and that requiring work ties benefits to responsibility. It’s a simple argument. It’s also a polarizing one.

Childcare is the crisis on the ground. Families of all incomes are struggling. Providers are closing. Hanks sees a system on the brink. He wants to help families afford to raise children here, not just survive. He’s looking at incentives for providers and relief for parents. It’s a practical problem that needs a practical solution, even if the federal government is slow to move.

Agriculture has faced its own headwinds. Volatile commodity prices. Tariffs. Cuts to federal food assistance. Hanks wants to help farmers weather the storm. He’s talking about stabilizing markets and ensuring that the people who feed the state aren’t priced out of their own land.

And then there’s the political machinery. President Trump has attacked mail-in balloting. Hanks supports Colorado’s election system. He wants to protect it from federal interference. He’s not saying Congress can’t change how elections run, but he’s drawing a line in the sand on federal overreach.

Tina Peters’ clemency is another touchstone. Hanks supported Gov. Polis’ decision. It’s a small detail, but it signals where he stands on the local political figures that matter to the base.

And the Jan. 6 compensation fund? Trump wants a $1.776 billion fund for those unfairly targeted by the Justice Department. Hanks supports it. He thinks people who attacked police officers on Jan. 6 should be eligible. It’s a bold take. It’s also a risky one.

Hurd stayed silent. Hanks spoke up.

The question is whether the voters in the 3rd District see silence as stability or as disengagement. They see a former lawyer who knows the system. They see a former lawmaker who knows the people.

Hanks is betting that his voice matters more than Hurd’s quiet tenure.

"The people here know what they need," Hanks says. "They just need someone in Washington who’s willing to fight for it."

The June 30 vote will decide if that fighting spirit is enough to unseat the incumbent.