Laubacher Claims Colorado 4th District Win

Democrat Eileen Laubacher declared victory Monday in the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. The Associated Press had not officially called the race at the time of the announcement, with Laubacher holding 48.8% of the vote against Boebert's 47.9%. Libertarian candidate Douglas Mangeris received 3.3% of the vote. The AP estimated that 98% of ballots had been counted when Laubacher made her statement.

The district, which covers most of Douglas County and the Eastern Plains, has historically been viewed as Colorado's most conservative area. While previously considered safely Republican, recent analyses categorized the race as leaning Republican. National Democratic organizations identified the seat as a top priority for this election cycle. The last Democrat to hold the position was former Rep. Betsy Markey, who served one term after winning in 2008.

Laubacher, a first-time candidate, is a retired Navy rear admiral and former National Security Council official. She switched her party registration from Republican to unaffiliated, then to Democratic in 2024. At a debate against Boebert, she explained that her belief in personal liberties now aligns with the Democratic Party, describing the Republican Party she previously supported as nearly unrecognizable.

Boebert, who resides in Windsor, first won office representing the 3rd District on the Western Slope. She moved to the 4th District after two terms following a close reelection bid in 2022. She is a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, though tensions emerged earlier this year. The rift followed Boebert's campaign alongside outgoing Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, whom the president targeted for leading efforts to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files last year.

Scott Gessler, an attorney for Boebert's campaign who also represented President Trump in a 2024 ballot lawsuit, said last week that the team is fighting to ensure every legal vote is counted. He stated that the campaign is investigating some very unusual voting patterns. Boebert's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. Boebert had voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election, which former President Joe Biden won.

Laubacher attended orientation for new members of Congress on Monday. In a statement, she said she traveled 40,000 miles across all 21 counties in the district over 17 months. She told supporters that Coloradans are tired of political games, broken promises, and being ignored by Washington. She added that voters want a representative who will fight for them and deliver results.

Two other Colorado congressional seats previously held by Republicans flipped to Democrats in last week's election. Democrat Manny Rutinel defeated Republican Rep. Gabe Evans in the 8th District, and Democrat Jessica Killin defeated Republican Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th District. With Boebert's loss, the state's congressional delegation now favors Democrats 7-1.