February 21, 2026 03:39 PM UTC

BREAKING: Trump Disowns Rep. Jeff Hurd, Endorses Whackjob Challenger

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Rep. Jeff Hurd responds with his trademark milquetoast sort-of but not really maverickyness:

I represent Colorado’s Third District, and I will always put our communities first.

When I took office, I swore an oath to the Constitution and to the people I serve. Every vote I cast is guided by what is best for this district and the long-term strength of our country.

Leadership requires independent judgment and the willingness to stand on principle.

My focus remains on delivering results for rural Colorado:

• Strengthening American energy production
• Supporting our farmers and ranchers
• Restoring fiscal discipline
• Protecting our water resources
• Backing our veterans and law enforcement

That’s the job I was elected to do — and I’ll keep doing it with conviction, optimism, and a deep gratitude for the people I serve.

Protip: It’s okay to say Donald Trump’s name now, Rep. Hurd. The time has come to do the hardest thing the “bread sandwich” has ever done, and draw a conclusion from Hurd’s many criticisms of a President who has now relieved him of any reason to stay polite.

—–

As President Donald Trump’s epic temper tantrum after the U.S. Supreme Court killed most of the tariffs he had put in place under “emergency” authority rages on, Rep. Jeff Hurd, a freshman member of Congress from Colorado who has occasionally criticized Trump–though generally falling in line with Trump’s agenda when it came to voting–has been formally disowned by the MAGA movement.

Trump’s announcement of this gobsmacking development a short while ago:

Based on a lack of support, in particular for the unbelievably successful TARIFFS imposed on Foreign Countries and Companies which has made America Richer, Stronger, Bigger, and Better than ever before, I am hereby WITHDRAWING my Endorsement of RINO Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorado’s 3rd District, and fully Endorsing Highly Respected Patriot, Hope Scheppelman, to take his place in Congress. Congressman Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down. He is more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America. Taking back an Endorsement is a difficult decision for me. I have only done it once before, with a former Congressman named Mo Brooks, from Alabama, who was leading by 54 points after my Endorsement for U.S. Senate, and then, he unexpectedly, for strictly political reasons, changed his views on the Rigged Election of 2020, and lost his Race in a Landslide to Katie Britt, who I Endorsed. These are the decisions that must be made, however, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

On the other hand, Hope Scheppelman is a distinguished Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, and a brave U.S. Navy Veteran, who knows the America First Policies required, and will do everything necessary to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. In Congress, Hope will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advocate for our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Safeguard our Elections, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.

Hope Scheppelman has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and, unlike RINO Jeff Hurd, HOPE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!

Trump’s disowning of Rep. Hurd and backing of former Colorado GOP vice-chairman Hope Scheppleman is another major shock to Colorado’s Republican political landscape, delivered with seemingly no understanding of reality on the ground. Scheppleman, who rose to prominence as a close ally of reviled ex-GOP chairman Rep. Dave Williams, is about as far from a serious contender for a congressional seat as we can imagine. After thoroughly alienating most of the Colorado Republican establishment as Williams’ controversial lieutenant, Scheppleman kicked off her campaign for Congress by outraging the Southern Ute Tribe, falsely suggesting they had endorsed her in a sacred sweat lodge ceremony.

Despite Scheppleman’s well-documented ineptitude, we can’t completely discount the possibility that Trump’s endorsement will result in an infusion of support that makes her at least temporarily more competitive. But it’s also possible that Trump dumping Hurd will induce another more qualified Republican candidate to jump in and take up the challenge.

Although Hurd has won some praise for standing up to some of Trump’s more egregious excesses like the pardoning of violent January 6th offenders, his support for the Republican budget bill last summer that resulted in devastating cuts to vital services he had paid lip service to protecting will make it harder for anyone left of MAGA to show him much sympathy. With that in mind, Hurd faces the choice of fighting off Scheppleman despite Trump’s support, walking away from Congress like so many other Republicans who have fallen out of Trump’s favor…

Or, you know, something else. If Hurd were to decide that the Republican Party is no longer his home after this, plenty of his constituents would understand.