A Republican candidate in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District landed a significant endorsement that speaks volumes about his commitment to Western Slope values and historic land use issues.

Gale Norton, a former Interior Secretary, and two-term state attorney general, has added her support to Jeff Hurd for the GOP primary.

“Washington desperately needs people with common sense, commitment to limited government and free enterprise, and a strong understanding of our American constitutional principles,” Norton said.

“Jeff understands the dire need to close the border and protect our communities, to unleash Colorado energy production, to fight back against Biden and the democrats as they ruin our economy, and to defend our ranchers and farmers from government overreach. Jeff is a leader of character who will be a hardworking and effective advocate for Western and Southern Colorado,” Norton said.

Hurd is running for the seat being vacated by Lauren Boebert, who has already moved to the 4th district to run for that seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ken Buck.

There are at least nine candidates running in this Republican primary, including former state Rep. Ron Hanks of Canon City, who is also moving from a different congressional district in the hopes of winning the Western Slope seat.