Representative-elect Hurd discusses Congressional debut in Rover interview
Notre Dame alumnus Jeff Hurd won election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, defeating Democratic challenger Adam Frisch in Colorado’s third district. According to AP News, Representative-elect Hurd led with approximately 50.8 percent of the vote to Frisch’s 45.8 percent, with over 95 percent of precincts reporting.
Hurd’s win was crucial for Republican efforts to maintain their House majority. On Friday, November 15, Republicans officially secured the House of Representatives, per Decision Desk. They now sit at 220 seats to the Democrat’s 213, with five races yet to be called. Several news outlets—including CNN, ABC, and NBC—have also called the House for the Republican party. Hurd’s win comes alongside broader Republican victories in both the Senate and the White House, giving Republicans a trifecta in government for the first time since 2019.
Hurd graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in the Program of Liberal Studies, classical literature, and philosophy, and he attended the University of Denver for law school. While at Notre Dame, Hurd lived in O’Neill Family Hall and worked in South Dining Hall, washing dishes to help pay for college.
In an interview with the Rover, Hurd noted the impact of his time at Notre Dame, describing it as “a meaningful educational and personal experience.” He also spoke of his former roommate and close friend, Father Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., who currently serves as Notre Dame’s Vice President for Student Affairs.
Hurd praised “the classical grounding in education” found at Notre Dame, adding, “It’s something I’ve carried with me through my professional career.”
Hurd declared his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, challenging incumbent Representative Lauren Boebert. After Boebert switched races (opting to run instead in Colorado’s fifth congressional district), Hurd cruised through the Republican primary, defeating runner-up challenger Ron Hanks with 41.2 percent of the vote to Hanks’ 28.5 percent. Now a freshman Congressman, he will serve as one of six Notre Dame alumni in the House of Representatives.
Regarding his victory, Hurd told the Rover he attributed much of his success to discontent with the current state of the country, believing people “[want] change and want to see the country move in a different direction.” During his time on the campaign trail, representative-elect Hurd emphasized various issues plaguing his Colorado district, including diminishing job opportunities, expensive housing, high energy bills, and unreliable internet.
“[In Congress,] I hope to be known as a serious, hard-working, capable legislator who is principled but also pragmatic,” Hurd said. “And someone who is knowledgeable, particularly when it comes to energy issues.”
Building off this statement, Hurd cited his background as an energy attorney, noting how high energy costs “operate as a hidden tax” on poor and middle-class families. “I want to make sure that we do everything we can to responsibly develop energy in my district and in our state, in our country. … That’s what I’m going to champion when I’m in Congress.”
In addition to energy policy, Hurd outlined several other key priorities on his agenda. Echoing the sentiment of other Republicans, he took strong stances on several national issues, identifying the need to “secure our southern border,” “reduce costs for families across the country,” and “lower inflation.” However, Hurd also stressed the significance of issues specific to the western United States and Colorado’s third district; in particular, the issue of water security was of the utmost importance to the recently elected representative.
“My last priority is something that matters out in the West, which is making sure that we protect our water,” Hurd told the Rover. “The Colorado River Basin is responsible for providing the livelihoods of 40 million people in the western United States, and [we need to] make sure we protect that water, particularly making sure that our farmers [and] ranchers in Colorado have the water they need to grow the food that we eat.”
Among the student body at Notre Dame, the news of Hurd’s election spurred both excitement and concern.
Christopher Suarez, a freshman from Siegfried Hall, expressed worries about representative-elect Hurd’s emphasis on border security in a comment to the Rover. “Pope Francis recently talked about how much more restrictive immigration policies are against Catholic traditions,” Suarez said. “While upholding the rule of law is important, being too restrictive, especially for refugees and people who are fleeing terrible situations, doesn’t respect their humanity. I wish his policies on immigration were reflected, given that he is from a Catholic university like Notre Dame,” he explained.
Other students, however, displayed more positive sentiments. In a statement to the Rover, a freshman from Stanford noted his support of Hurd’s immigration policy, considering himself a “pretty big supporter” of his intention to secure the southern border. He also highlighted his support of Hurd’s economic and energy policies. “[He] sounds like a good guy,” the student concluded.
Overall, students were enthusiastic about having another “Domer” on Capitol Hill. Despite his disagreements, for instance, Suarez expressed excitement at the prospect. “It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in with caucuses,” he commented. “I think it’s inspiring whenever Notre Dame alumni reach influential and great positions.”
David Murphy is a freshman studying political science and economics. When he is not up at 3 a.m. scrolling through election results, he enjoys going on walks and working out in the gym. He can be reached by email at dmurph23@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Kunc News
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