Boebert to seek nomination in CD4, leaving Western Slope

On Dec. 27, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert announced that she will switch districts and seek the 2024 Republican nomination in the state’s fourth Congressional District on the Eastern Plains. Boebert, a conservative businesswoman and gun rights activist, has represented Colorado’s third Congressional District (CD3) on the Western Slope, including Gunnison County, since 2021. 

In the race to represent CD3 in 2022, incumbent Boebert garnered 31% of the vote in Gunnison County, while Democratic challenger Adam Frisch took 69%. A week after election day, the race across CD3 remained too close to call. A mandatory recount later confirmed that Boebert won the race with the final margin 50.06% to 49.89%. 

In CD3, Boebert faced a strong primary challenger this election season as well as repercussions from the “Beetlejuice” scandal in Denver where she was escorted out of the performance for inappropriate behavior. CD4, which encompasses the majority of the eastern portion of the state, is more conservative than CD3.  

In a press release, Boebert described the announcement as a “fresh start” following a difficult year for her and her family. 

"Professionally, Colorado’s 4th District is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles,” she said. “I love Colorado’s 3rd District and I will continue working as hard as I can for the remainder of my term to be a great Representative for the district … But I also spent years living on the Front Range and years representing rural America. The 3rd and the 4th Congressional Districts comprise nearly 85% of Colorado’s footprint and have less than 20 people per square mile. Rural America deserves a strong voice that fights for their freedoms.”

Boebert leaves behind Republican candidates Jeff Hurd, an attorney and former president of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, and Russ Andrews, a financial advisor based in Carbondale.

Following the announcement, Frisch, who hoped to unseat Boebert this year, said his focus will remain the same.

“From Day 1 of this race, I have been squarely focused on defending rural Colorado’s way of life and offering common sense solutions to the problems facing the families of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District,” Frisch said in a statement.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)