MAGA Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert Seeks 2024 Re-Election In Different Colorado District

Representative Lauren Boebert announced at the end of last month (December 27) that she would not be seeking re-election in her home of Colorado’s 3^rd Congressional District but would instead be moving to run in the state’s 4^th District. This is considered a strategic move to maintain the narrow Republican majority in the House.

In a Facebook video titled ‘My 2024 Election Plans’, Boebert said the decision was right for her personally and for supporters of the conservative movement.

The congresswoman reiterated her commitment to stopping “socialists and communists from taking over” the United States before attacking Hollywood elites like Barbra Streisand and Ryan Reynolds, who she argues forced her into this decision with their financial support for her Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch. Their combined contribution of $1500 however, only accounts for 0.03% of the almost 8 million raised by Frisch.  

Boebert admitted that 2023 was “a pretty difficult year” for her and her family and credited her “own personal mistakes” with helping her gain new perspective as a mother and congresswoman.

The hard-right conservative described the people of Colorado’s 4^th District as “hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom” and believes her experience in rural America makes her the best candidate. Boebert blamed President Biden and his excessive spending for the struggles facing the American people and argues liberals have damaged the entire state of Colorado.

In her statement, the congresswoman said she “did not arrive at this decision easily” but ultimately concluded this was her best option to continue fighting for Colorado. Despite currently residing in the 3^rd, Boebert plans to move to Colorado’s 4^th District this year.

Colorado comprises eight congressional districts, currently served by 5 Democratic and 3 Republican representatives in the House. The 3^rd and 4^th sit on opposite sides of the state and have different voter demographics. The latter has a greater share of Republican voters and is considered much wealthier, whiter, and more educated than the former.

In 2020, Trump took the 3^rd by 8 percentage points and the 4^th by 19 percentage points. Whilst Boebert’s current district has a history of electing representatives from both sides of the aisle, the 4^th hasn’t been represented by a Democrat since 1973 – with the exception of Rep. Betsy Markey who served one term between 2009 and 2011. 

Ahead of Boebert’s announcement last month, it was anticipated that she would face a particularly tough re-election bid in Colorado’s 3^rd against Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch. In the 2022 midterm elections, there were only 546 votes between the candidates, triggering an automatic recount across the district.

Almost a year ago, in February 2023, Fisch announced that he was again launching his campaign to unseat Boebert in Colorado’s 3^rd Congressional District. The Democratic businessman and former Aspen City Council member, since declaring his bid for 2024, has raised over $7.72 million (December 28, 2023). Boebert has only raised a fraction of this with $2.39 million.

Frisch accused Boebert of “running scared from CD-3” once she realised she would not be able to match his “campaign’s ability to connect with voters”. He assured voters he would bring “common sense” to Congress in the wake of Boebert’s divisiveness and extremism.

During a visit to Colorado’s 3^rd District in November 2023, President Biden took the opportunity to criticise Boebert, calling her “one of the leaders of this extreme MAGA movement”. He reminded voters of the congresswoman’s record including her vote against his Inflation Reduction Act, which helped create hundreds of jobs across the state. 

Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib joined the debate, calling Boebert “cowardly” for “abandoning” the people of Colorado’s 3^rd District. He labelled her a “loser” and “typical swampy politician” trying to cling on to power in Washington D.C.

But it is not just Democrats condemning Boebert’s decision to move. Republican hopeful Trent Leisy, who has also bid for the seat in Colorado’s 4^th Congressional District, said she had enabled a Democratic victory by moving districts to run against him. Leisy urged the congresswoman to “be a fighter and keep her district red!” Incumbent representative of the 4^th, Republican Ken Buck, is not seeking re-election this year.

Although perceived to be the most conservative district in Colorado, a win in the 4^th is not guaranteed for Boebert in 2024. It is set to be a particularly competitive Republican primary with a radio host and member of the state legislature also throwing their hats in the ring.

Boebert has ruffled a few feathers during her time in office, most notably with her involvement in conspiracy groups and Islamophobic comments about Minnesota Democrat, Rep. Ilhan Omar. She also remains a controversial figure in Republican circles as a result of  her allegiance to Donald Trump and contribution to Kevin McCarthy’s downfall as Speaker of the House.

Edited by: Kaiyah Ellison

Photo credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

0 comments

Leave a comment