Rep. Lauren Boebert quits race for current congressional seat, will seek office in more GOP-friendly district
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) announced Wednesday that she will no longer vie for her current congressional seat representing Colorado’s 3rd District and instead run for office in the more Republican-friendly 4th District.
“I am going to do everything in my power to represent the 3rd District well for the remainder of this term as I work to earn the trust of grassroots conservative voters in the 4th District to represent them in 2025,” Boebert, 37, said in a Facebook post announcing her decision.
“It’s the right move for me personally, and it’s the right decision for those who support our conservative movement,” the Republican lawmaker added.
Boebert was narrowly re-elected to a second term in the 3rd District last year, winning her race against Democrat Adam Frisch by just 546 votes.
Frisch has raised more than three times as much funds as Boebert over the last three months.
The 3rd District leans 9 percentage points in favor of Republicans compared to the 27 percentage-point advantage the GOP has in the 4th District, according to the Colorado Sun, which cited an analysis of election results from 2016 to 2020 conducted by Colorado legislative staffers.
Boebert is not required to reside in the 4th District to represent it.
“I did not arrive at this decision easily,” she said in a video message posted on Facebook. “A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my children’s future.”
Boebert called the announcement “a fresh start” and described 2023 as a “pretty difficult year for me and my family.”
In May, she filed for divorce from her husband of 18 years.
In September, the conservative lawmaker was caught on camera vaping and appearing to rub her date’s crotch while he fondled her breasts during a theater performance of “Beetlejuice.”
Boebert and her date were both kicked out of the theater over the incident, for which she apologized several times.
“I’ve made my own personal mistakes and have owned up and apologized for them,” she said Wednesday. “It’s tested my faith, my strength and my abilities both as a mom and a congresswoman. It’s been humbling and challenging, but it’s also given me perspective and helped me grow. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for everyone who has steadfastly stood alongside me in the 3rd District and across America.”
Several Republicans were lined up to run against Boebert in the 3rd District primary, and Frisch is again vying for the congressional seat after his 2022 loss.
Boebert accused “Hollywood elites,” “progressive money groups,” “Aspen donors” and “George Soros” of trying to “buy the 3rd District” congressional seat in 2024.
Colorado’s current 4th District representative, Ken Buck, announced last month that he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024.
