He worked as a management consultant and then as executive director of the Colorado Community Planning and Research Council, a nonprofit organization.

When the new Congress opened in January 2005, House Republicans pushed through new rules curtailing the ways ethics investigations can be launched.

[5] In the August GOP primary to succeed him, Hefley backed his long-time aide, former administrative director Jeff Crank, who lost in a contentious six-way race to State Senator Doug Lamborn.

Hefley was incensed at the tactics used in the election, particularly a mailed brochure from the Christian Coalition of Colorado associating Crank with "public support for members and efforts of the homosexual agenda."

"[6] Hefley called it "one of the sleaziest, most dishonest campaigns I've seen in a long time,"[6] and, as a result, refused to endorse Lamborn.