Rep. Lauren Boebert, the gun-toting Republican firebrand who shot to prominence following a 2019 viral video and continued to grab headlines with her actions on Capitol Hill and beyond, has lost her bid for reelection.
She was bested by Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, according to an Associated Press projection.
Weeks ago, Boebert, who served three terms, was considered the heavy favorite to win the historically red district, which stretches from Denver’s eastern suburbs to the Kansas border. But a razor-thin margin between Laubacher and Boebert stretched the vote count out for more than a week, with the Democratic challenger ultimately prevailing.
Boebert broke into the national spotlight in a moment of viral fame. At a town hall hosted by then-presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke in 2019, Boebert confronted him directly after his famous declaration: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15.”
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Taking the microphone, she shot back, “Hell no, you’re not.”
On the House floor, she became known for her bombastic style and fierce defense of President Donald Trump. She objected to the certification of the 2020 election results, sparred with Democratic leadership throughout her tenure and participated in the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
Boebert also fought to change the workplace culture for women on Capitol Hill. She and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) were vocal about a culture of sexual misconduct in Washington, voting with Democrats in March to subpoena then-Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Epstein files. Mace lost her bid to become governor of South Carolina, while Luna narrowly won reelection.
Boebert notably appealed to congressional staff members to lean on her if they were experiencing sexual harassment.
“Come to my office,” she said in April. “If you want to remain anonymous, remain anonymous. Let one of us loudmouths get it out there for you.”
But signs of trouble quickly emerged this cycle as Boebert struggled to match the formidable financial operation driving Laubacher’s campaign, which raised over $13 million to fund a heavy spate of television and digital ads. By contrast, Boebert relied on late outside spending and ran minimal advertising to prop up her campaign.
Even as results on Election Day showed Laubacher with an early lead, reporters noted Boebert didn’t seem too worried.
“She’s walking around, drinking a Busch Light,” a reporter from 9News (KUSA-TV) was quoted as saying.
Boebert told Scripps News that she did not plan to seek office again in 2028.
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