In a move that could save her congressional career, Rep. Boebert has decided to run for the 4th Congressional District.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) is not running for reelection in the 3rd congressional district in a move that could easily be construed as political opportunism and career protectionism. Instead, she has decided to seek the Republican nomination for Colorado’s 4th congressional district, a far more favorable state than her current residence.
Boebert’s Electoral Troubles
Rep. Boebert has been the subject of immense controversy over the years, including a confrontation with Beto O’Rourke in 2019 over his support for gun buybacks and banning the AR-15. She also heckled President Biden alongside Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) after he mentioned the dangers of burn pits to American soldiers, which have been shown to increase the risk of cancer.
Biden’s son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.
Rather than contain herself, Boebert could be heard screaming, “You put them there—13 of them,” a reference to the thirteen U.S. soldiers who died during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
This is to say that Rep. Boebert has been consistently seen in a hostile and aggressive light by many Americans, and her current district has seemingly grown tired of her rhetorical style. In 2022, Boebert barely held onto her seat, defeating Democratic candidate Adam Frisch by over 500 votes, taking approximately 50.1 percent compared to Frisch’s 49.9.
And it seems like Frisch isn’t done with her either, as he is running again to take her seat, raising an estimated $7.7 million compared to Boebert’s $2.4 million as of October 30th, more than three times that of Boebert’s war chest.
Such a difference is significant not only because of its size. Incumbents usually enjoy a decent lead on their opponents, so much so that incumbency can be considered an advantage in and of itself. However, with the rise of Frisch’s campaign in her district, already-established name recognition, and strong fundraising game, it is increasingly clear that the 3rd district wouldn’t be an easy fight to win. That said, her current choice may also backfire on her.
How Not to Make Friends and Influence Republicans
While Boebert has previously been known for angering people across the political system, she has been relatively cautious enough not to anger or jeopardize the electoral chances of her allies, working with the far-right Freedom Caucus. However, her decision to run for the 4th district may change that.
Prior to her running, the race for the 4th congressional district was already complicated by the absence of an incumbent. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced that he would not be running for reelection, removing incumbency as a factor.
The result was predictable, as six candidates sought the GOP’s nomination for the district, which has previously shown strong Republican ties. In 2022, Rep. Buck won the district by over 60 percent of the vote compared to his Democratic opponent’s 36.6 percent.
Rep. Boebert’s entry into the primary comes with a litany of issues, not least of all because she doesn’t currently live in the district. The alleged opportunism and self-interest in Rep. Boebert’s decision could very well serve as a hindrance and a sign that the gun-toting Congresswoman has little interest in a given constituency and is instead more interested in holding public office by any means necessary. This is an argument her Republican opponents are almost certain to make.
CBS News Colorado analyst Dick Wadhams noted this, saying, “She knew she was probably going to lose in the 3rd Congressional District…People don’t like people moving into a district just to run…” Wadhams is not the only one recognizing Rep. Boebert’s vulnerability.
Former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, a candidate for Rep. Buck’s seat, hit Boebert almost immediately with a statement reading:
I look forward to welcoming Lauren to the fourth district and representing her in Congress. I’ve lived, worked, and raised my family here and I’m blessed to have always called Eastern Colorado home. The fourth district is my home, and I’m going to continue to work hard to represent the principled conservative values of everyone who lives here just as I have always done.
Former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg in a statement to CBS Colorado, December 29th 2023.
Other candidates have also hit on that note, with State Rep. Richard Holtorf being even more blunt, demanding to know if Rep. Boebert thought voters in the 4th district were “…that stupid.” He further questioned Boebert’s view of her new voters, saying, “Does she think we’re going to be fooled by this trickery?”
This line of attack, which has been repeated by candidates and voters, will likely harm Rep. Boebert’s candidacy as her rhetoric has consistently been anti-establishment. To many other voters, Rep. Boebert was supposed to be anything but a career politician, but the moves she is currently making seem to reek of that very opportunism that she claimed to oppose. By engaging in so-called ‘seat shopping,’ Rep Boebert may have lost her anti-establishment credentials and put her at odds with her fellow Republicans.
Cowardice and Hypocrisy
There is another side to Rep. Boebert’s decision to move out of her district that shouldn’t be forgotten: her unwillingness to face the voters who gave her power. Whether or not Rep. Boebert likes it, the voters decide who gets to represent them, and they have every right to decide that the person they previously elected is insufficient to meet their needs. Regardless of what Rep. Boebert wants, she is not entitled to a seat in Congress or power. It is earned.
Combined with the many scandals that she faced, including the sexually explicit behavior she engaged in at a theater, Rep. Boebert’s decision to move to the 4th district gives off an impression of entitlement. An entitlement to power and entitlement to disregard the principles of moderation that she claims guide her life.
Rep. Boebert’s actions as of late reek of desperation and show a blatant unwillingness to accept that she is not in charge. The people are. Lauren Elizabeth perfectly encapsulated this, saying:
… I’m not sure how much more cowardly it can get than that. It wreaks of desperation. It wreaks of a desire to hold on to power at any cost. This is a woman who knows her family’s situation depends on her maintaining this status, and she’ll do what it takes to keep it.
Frankly, I would love to see her reaction if one of her Democratic peers like AOC or Cori Bush did this. What would she say? How would she respond? I think we all know she wouldn’t hesitate at all to take to social media or television, and point this type of move out for exactly what it is: a desperate desire to retain power.
Lauren Elizabeth, Rep. Lauren Boebert is Switching Congressional Districts, December 28th, 2023
So long as Rep. Boebert carries this decision over her, her career and reputation might as well be in a trash bin. She has abandoned her constituents, undermined an already competitive race in another district, and shown how little she cares for the will of her people. If there is anything to be gleaned from this decision by Rep. Boebert, it is that opportunism comes with a cost. While it is not entirely clear if Rep. Boebert will lose, it is almost certain that her entitlement will cost her, and she deserves every second of this fight.
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