President Trump withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd after Hurd opposed the administration's tariffs and instead endorsed Hurd's primary challenger, Hope Scheppelman. Hurd, a first-term congressman who voted Feb. 11 to end tariffs on Canada, defended his vote and supported a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down much of the tariff program. Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and former state GOP vice chair, thanked Trump; Colorado's Republican primary is June 30. The move highlights widening divisions in the GOP over trade and the political consequences Trump warns will follow votes against his tariff agenda.
Trump Withdraws Endorsement Of Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd, Backs Primary Challenger Over Tariff Dispute
Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., at the U.S. Capitol in 2025. President Donald Trump pulled his endorsement of Hurd and is now backing Hope Scheppelman for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file)(Bill Clark)
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is rescinding his endorsement of Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, citing Hurd's opposition to the administration's tariff policies. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was withdrawing his support "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."
Trump also announced that he is now endorsing Hurd's Republican primary challenger, Hope Scheppelman. Colorado's Republican primary is scheduled for June 30.
Responses From Both Camps
Scheppelman thanked Trump for the endorsement in a social-media post and pledged to "help President Trump repair the damage Biden and the Democrats did to our economy and our country" and to work to make life more affordable for working families. According to her campaign site, Scheppelman is a Navy veteran, former vice chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party and has a 35-year career in health care.
Hurd's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hurd — a first-term congressman who won Colorado's 3rd District by about five points in November 2024 — was one of six House Republicans who voted on Feb. 11 to terminate tariffs the administration had imposed on Canada.
Trade Vote, Court Ruling And Political Fallout
Following a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down much of the administration's tariff measures, Hurd defended his vote and the court's ruling. He said tariffs can be a useful tool when applied strategically but argued that the decision highlights the need for Congress to exercise its constitutional role in shaping trade policy.
Trump has warned Republican lawmakers that voting against his tariffs could lead to political consequences. In a Truth Social post around the time of the House vote, he wrote that any Republican who votes against tariffs "will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!"
"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!" — President Donald Trump
Trump noted that he has rescinded endorsements before, including his 2022 withdrawal of support for Rep. Mo Brooks. He has also pulled backing for other allies in recent political disputes. The president has additionally suggested that foreign interests exert undue influence over institutions, including the Supreme Court — comments he reiterated following the court's ruling on tariff policy.
With the primary approaching on June 30, the endorsement shift injects a high-profile national element into the Colorado race and underscores the political stakes for Republicans who break with the former president on trade.
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