Rep. Lauren Boebert announces run for open seat in Colorado’s 4th congressional district
RIFLE, Colo. (KRDO) -- Republican Lauren Boebert will run for a new Congressional district in 2024.
In a Facebook video released Wednesday night, she announced her plans to move into CD4 and run for the seat that will open up when fellow Republican Ken Buck's term ends.
Buck, whose district includes the eastern third of Colorado as well as pieces of several front range counties, is not seeking re-election.
Boebert currently represents CD3, which encompasses the western slope of Colorado as well as south central Colorado all the way to Pueblo County.
"I love Colorado's 3rd, and I will continue working as hard as I can for the remainder of my term to be a great representative for everyone in this district, but I also spent years living on the front range, and years representing rural America," she said in the video announcement.
"2024 is going to be tough. We cannot lose the 3rd, and Colorado's 4th district is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles," she added.
Boebert also talked about the challenges of a recent divorce and acknowledged the recent negative headlines after being asked to leave a Denver theater for vaping and being disruptive, which she initially tried to deny.
"Personally, this announcement is a fresh start following a pretty difficult year for me and my family. I had never been in politics before, and I had never been through a divorce, something I never intended to go through. I've made my own personal mistakes and have owned up and apologized for them."
"It's been humbling and challenging, but it's also given me perspective and helped me grow."
Boebert defeated Democrat Adam Frisch of Aspen in November of 2022 by a margin of just over 500 votes, among the closest races in the nation.
Frisch is currently running for the seat a second time, and has far outraised Boebert, according to the Associated Press.
A Republican has held the 3rd district seat since Scott Tipton won it in 2011; however, with each election since the margin of victory has eroded further and further.
Boebert was already facing a challenge from a fellow Republican in the 2024 primary, Jeff Hurd, who has been endorsed by a number of Republican leaders in the district already.
At the time of that endorsement, Boebert said she wasn't worried about him.
In the announcement Wednesday, Boebert didn't name Hurd directly, but predicted a Republican would continue to hold the district that Democrats have pushed hard to take over.
"I will be moving to the 4th in 2024, and will continue to take my conservative fight directly to them. And the Aspen donors, George Soros, and Hollywood actors that are trying to buy this seat? Well, they can go pound sand. We aren't going to give them the opportunity to steal the 3rd."
"I will be moving to the 4th in 2024, and will continue to take my conservative fight directly to them. And the Aspen donors, George Soros, and Hollywood actors that are trying to buy this seat? Well, they can go pound sand. We aren't going to give them the opportunity to steal the 3rd."
Meanwhile in the 4th district, more than half a dozen Republicans have already announced their campaign to fill the seat vacated by Buck, with more expected in the already crowded field.
According to federal election law, a member of the U.S. House does not have to reside in the district they represent. They must only be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state he or she represents.
