Lauren Boebert wins Colorado Republican House primary
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
June 26, 2024, 1:21 AM UTC / Updated June 26, 2024, 1:59 AM UTCBy Bridget Bowman
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., won her GOP primary Tuesday, NBC News projects, after she decided to run in a different district from the one where she narrowly won re-election in 2022.
Boebert defeated five other Republicans for the party's nomination in Colorado's 4th District, which opened up after Rep. Ken Buck announced this year that he would resign. She will be heavily favored to win the seat in the general election given the area's rightward lean.
Boebert, who is in her second term, eked out a 546-vote victory in the neighboring 3rd District two years ago and faced the prospect of a rematch with Adam Frisch, a well-funded Democrat. Former President Donald Trump won the 4th District by 19 points, while he carried the 3rd District by 8 points in 2020, according to calculations from Daily Kos Elections.
Boebert, whom Trump backed, built a national profile as a conservative firebrand after she pulled off a surprising 2020 GOP primary win against then-Rep. Scott Tipton, in part by promising to take on high-profile liberal figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
"Since the first day I ran for public office I promised I would do whatever it takes to stop the socialists and communists from taking over our country," Boebert said in December when she announced her decision to run in the 4th District. "That means staying in the fight. But it also means not allowing Hollywood elites and progressive money groups to buy the 3rd District."
Boebert also said the move would be a "fresh start" after a difficult year for her personally, noting she and her husband had divorced. She was granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-husband in February. She also grabbed headlines last year for being escorted out of a musical for allegedly "vaping, singing [and] causing a disturbance."
Boebert's decision to run in the neighboring 4th District also shook up the GOP primary in the more competitive 3rd District, where Frisch, a former member of the Aspen City Council, cleared the Democratic field and won the party's nomination.
Attorney Jeff Hurd won the GOP primary to face Frisch in the fall, NBC News projects, overcoming a Democratic effort to meddle in the Republican contest and secure an opponent who could be easier to beat in November.
A Democratic outside group launched a TV ad appearing to boost controversial former state Rep. Ron Hanks, according to The Colorado Sun. Hanks has denied the 2020 election results, and he marched to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He also ran unsuccessfully in the GOP Senate primary in 2022.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House GOP leadership, countered the effort with its own TV ad targeting Hanks. Frisch also appeared to play in the primary by launching a TV ad aimed at Hurd, potentially damaging his standing among conservative voters by suggesting his positions on abortion and Trump are unclear.
In the deep-red 5th District, Republicans selected political consultant Jeff Cranks, a former radio host,to replace retiring GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn.
Crank's victory is a blow to Trump, who had endorsed state GOP Chairman Dave Williams. Crank had support from House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and a few other congressional Republicans.
New member of Congress
Boebert also decided not to run in the special election to serve out the rest of Buck's term, opting to remain in Congress and continue representing the 3rd District.
Republican George Lopez won the special election Tuesday to replace Buck, NBC News projects, meaning Lopez will soon head to the House and help pad Republicans' thin majority. Lopez did not run for a full term, so he will serve in Congress for only about six months.
Lopez, a former state director for the Small Business Administration and a former mayor of Parker, has run for office multiple times, including having made unsuccessful bids for governor in 2022 and 2018. He is a staunch conservative and has taken some far-right positions, including casting doubt on the 2020 election results. He also does not support any exceptions to a ban on abortions.
Tuesday's primaries also set the matchup in Colorado's 8th District, which is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the country this year.
As expected, state Rep. Gave Evans won the GOP primary to take on Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo, who won her first term in 2022 by just 1 percentage point. Evans was the top fundraiser in the GOP primary and had Trump's endorsement.
Bridget Bowman
Bridget Bowman is a national political reporter for NBC News.
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It may be time to start drug testing voters in states where Marijuana is legal before allowing them to vote.
it may be time to cancel the maga/GOP primaries in colorado and simply turn them into ass kissing and blowjob contests...
Does not speak well to Colorado republicans, that's for sure.
that congressional district is packed with thumpers, clod hoppers, secessionists, and maga/teabag fecal relics...
Which is why carpetbagger Boebert switched to it.
Kind of like how the Clintons moved to New York before she ran for the Senate. Damn.. politicians moving to an area so they can run in an easier election. LOL
I don't understand, is it okay with you that Boebert switched districts just because she doesn't want to lose? Is that acceptable to you?
It's not illegal and numerous politicians have done exactly that in the past so I really don't care about it. The voters in that district were the ones who had the say on who got their votes.
As I said, the Clintons moved to New York in order to run for the Senate seat being opened by the retirement of Senator Moynihan. Both parties were involved to get "big names" involved as it was an important seat. Is it ok with you that she moved to New York while she was still the First Lady in order to run for that senate seat? Bill Clinton was still the seated president and their home of record at the time was still Arkansas.
Absolutely! It's called politics and the aim is not to lose. She's not in my district, so I don't care. The name of the game is holding onto her House seat. The Dems also have a few unsavory characters also, so they shouldn't cast aspersions and throw stones.
That wasn't the question. Try again.
Why are you avoiding the question and trying to deflect to the Clintons? Just answer the question.
Why don't you look at that full sentence as I did answer it.
See.. answered. I don't care that she did it. Politicians have been doing this for a very long time in this country. The only people who should give a damn are the people in that district who cast their vote. Other than them, who else matters?
Why don't you answer the question I asked? Are you ok with HRC moving to New York, while she was still the First Lady, in order to run for a senate seat?
If you don't care about it, WHY DO YOU KEEP REPLYING?????
Bravo.. way to ignore an answer and recast it to try some snark.
Let me rephrase, I don't care that she moved. OK?
And why don't you answer my question?
Because you said that you don't care.
Exactly!!
Are we going to see another episode of liberal snowflakes screaming at the sky again?
Did the last episode ever really stop?
Good point.
My guess is that her campaign promised a lot of hand jobs in return for votes. She’s going to have some sore arms. Maybe this guy can give her some tips:
Something is rotten in the state of Colorado (not Denmark this time Mr. Shakespeare)
Did she promise handjobs in every pickup truck? (Asking for a friend)