Retired Admiral Laubacher Claims 4th District Seat From Boebert

Residents of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District will be represented by a new member of Congress starting in January. Eileen Laubacher defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, ending a streak of Republican control that had held for decades in the district stretching from the Eastern Plains to Loveland.

The Associated Press called the race for Laubacher on Friday at 12:53 p.m. She received 48.8 percent of the votes tallied, while Boebert secured 47.9 percent. The margin of victory was fewer than 4,000 votes. Douglas Mangeris of the Libertarian Party finished third with 3.3 percent of the total. This outcome marks only the second time since 1973 that a Democrat has won this specific congressional seat.

Laubacher is a 58-year-old retired Navy rear admiral from Highlands Ranch. She spent 34 years in the U.S. Navy, which included a deployment to Afghanistan and service on the National Security Council. She retired in 2024 after working on South Asia policy under President Joe Biden. In her campaign, she positioned herself as a moderate alternative who had previously been a Republican. Her campaign raised $13.7 million through mid-October, significantly outspending Boebert’s $1.2 million in fundraising.

Boebert, 39, of Windsor, served six years in Congress before this loss. She first represented the 3rd Congressional District for two terms before moving to the 4th District in 2024. Her reelection bid faced challenges from recent personal news and a split with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files. Despite these issues, Trump endorsed her four days before the election, describing her as a "MAGA Warrior." Boebert’s campaign relied on about $450,000 in support from a group tied to the House Freedom Caucus.

In a news release following the victory, Laubacher stated that her focus will be on lowering costs, protecting healthcare, and strengthening rural communities. She emphasized the need to hold Washington accountable for actions in both parties. Boebert told 9News after Election Day that she was not surprised by the result, citing the impact of the war in Iran on voters. She said she had complete peace about the work her team accomplished during the campaign.

Supporters for both candidates gathered on election night in their respective communities. Laubacher addressed a crowd on the rooftop patio of a pub in Highlands Ranch, urging voters to remember that integrity and character matter in public service. Boebert watched results from a sports bar in Windsor, where she told supporters to maintain their faith and move forward regardless of the outcome. The district’s new representative will join a congressional delegation where Democrats now hold a majority of state seats, leaving only Rep. Jeff Hurd from Grand Junction as a surviving Republican in Colorado’s delegation.