Colorado's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. It takes in most of the rural Western Slope in the state's western third portion, with a wing in the south taking in some of the southern portions of the Eastern Plains. It includes the cities of Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Pueblo. The district has been represented by Republican Jeff Hurd since 2025.
The district was represented from 1987 to 1993 by Ben Nighthorse Campbell before he ran for the U.S. Senate and switched parties from Democratic to Republican. The district's former representative Scott Tipton lost renomination in 2020 to Lauren Boebert in what was considered a major upset. Boebert won the general election on November 3, 2020, and narrowly won re-election in the closest House race of 2022.
The district is mainly rural and leans Republican, though not as much as the neighboring 4th district. However, the Democrats have a strong base in counties on the I-70 corridor and Pueblo, as well as ski towns such as Aspen, thus keeping the seat competitive.
History
1990s
Following the 1990 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district consisted of Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Lake, La Plata, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, and Summit counties, as well as portions of Douglas, Fremont, and Jefferson counties.
2000s
Following the 2000 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district consisted of Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel counties and most of Otero County.
2010s
Following the 2010 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district underwent very little change, and continued to cover 27 of the previous counties, excluding Las Animas and Otero counties.
2020s
Following the 2020 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district lost Jackson County, Routt County, and most of Eagle County to the 2nd district as well as Custer and Lake counties to the 7th district. It also gained Las Animas and Otero counties from the 4th district. This configuration of the district took effect starting from the 2022 elections.
Characteristics The district has two major population centers, in Grand Junction and Pueblo. The two cities and their surrounding rural areas provide a competitive arena for congressional races. Grand Junction, on the Western Slope, is a Republican stronghold, while Pueblo, a town with a large Latino population and (by Colorado norms) a heavily unionized workforce, provides a base of support for Democrats.
The Denver Post describes the district as:
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Alamosa County (3)
All 3 communities
Archuleta County (2) Arboles, Pagosa Springs
Conejos County (2)
All 7 communities
Costilla County (4)
All 4 communities
Delta County (7)
All 7 communities
Dolores County (2)
Dove Creek, Rico
Eagle County (4) Basalt (shared with Pitkin County), Dotsero, El Jebel, Gypsum (part; also 2nd)
Garfield County (13)
All 13 communities
Gunnison County (6)
All 6 communities
Hinsdale County (3)
All 3 communities
Huerfano County (3)
All 3 communities
La Plata County (5)
All 5 communities
Las Animas County (6)
All 6 communities
Mesa County (10)
All 10 communities
Mineral County (1)
Creede
Moffat County (3)
All 3 communities
Montezuma County (5)
All 5 communities
Montrose County (5)
All 5 communities
Otero County (5)
All 5 communities
Ouray County (5)
All 5 communities
Pitkin County (6)
All 6 communities
Pueblo County (10)
All 10 communities
Rio Blanco County (2)
Meeker, Rangely
Rio Grande County (6)
All 6 communities
Saguache County (5)
All 5 communities
San Juan County (1)
Silverton
San Miguel County (6)
All 6 communities
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 50% - 47% SenateUdall 49% - 46%2010 SenateBuck 50% - 44% GovernorHickenlooper 47% - 19% Secretary of StateGessler 49% - 44% TreasurerStapleton 55% - 45% Attorney GeneralSuthers 60% - 40%2012 PresidentRomney 54% - 46%2014 SenateGardner 52% - 42%2016 PresidentTrump 53% - 39% SenateGlenn 51% - 43%2018 GovernorStapleton 51% - 45% Attorney GeneralBrauchler 53% - 44%2020 PresidentTrump 53% - 45% SenateGardner 54% - 44%2022 SenateO'Dea 49% - 48% GovernorPolis 50% - 47% Secretary of StateAnderson 50% - 47% TreasurerSias 51% - 45% Attorney GeneralKellner 51% - 46%2024 PresidentTrump 54% - 44%
List of members representing the district Member Party Term duration Congress Electoral history District location District created March 4, 1915 Edward Keating Democratic March 4, 1915 –March 3, 1919 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Lost re-election. Guy Urban Hardy Republican March 4, 1919 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Lost re-election. John Andrew Martin Democratic March 4, 1933 –December 23, 1939 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Died. Vacant December 23, 1939 –November 5, 1940 William Evans Burney Democratic November 5, 1940 –January 3, 1941 Elected to finish Martin's term.Did not run for the next term. J. Edgar Chenoweth Republican January 3, 1941–January 3, 1949 Elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Lost re-election. John H. Marsalis Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1951 Elected in 1948.Lost re-election. John Chenoweth Republican January 3, 1951 –January 3, 1965 Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Lost re-election. Frank Evans Democratic January 3, 1965 –January 3, 1979 Elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Retired. Ray Kogovsek Democratic January 3, 1979 –January 3, 1985 Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Retired. Michael L. Strang Republican January 3, 1985 –January 3, 1987 Elected in 1984.Lost re-election. Ben Nighthorse Campbell Democratic January 3, 1987 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Scott McInnis Republican January 3, 1993 –January 3, 2005 Elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Retired. 1993–2003 2003–2013 John Salazar Democratic January 3, 2005 –January 3, 2011 Elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Lost re-election. Scott Tipton Republican January 3, 2011 –January 3, 2021 Elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Lost renomination. 2013–2023 Lauren Boebert Republican January 3, 2021 –January 3, 2025 Elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Moved to run in the 4th district. 2023–presentJeff Hurd Republican January 3, 2025 –presentElected in 2024.
Election results 1914 • 1916 • 1918 • 1920 • 1922 • 1924 • 1926 • 1928 • 1930 • 1932 • 1934 • 1936 • 1938 • 1940 (Special) • 1940 • 1942 • 1944 • 1946 • 1948 • 1950 • 1952 • 1954 • 1956 • 1958 • 1960 • 1962 • 1964 • 1966 • 1968 • 1970 • 1972 • 1974 • 1976 • 1978 • 1980 • 1982 • 1984 • 1986 • 1988 • 1990 • 1992 • 1994 • 1996 • 1998 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004 • 2006 • 2008 • 2010 • 2012 • 2014 • 2016 • 2018 • 2020 • 2022 • 2024
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940 (Special)
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Historical district boundaries
See also
Colorado's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
External links