Lauren Boebert Loses Her Colorado House Seat — Democrat Eileen Laubacher Pulls Ahead

Lauren Boebert Loses Her Colorado House Seat — Democrat Eileen Laubacher Pulls Ahead

Lauren Boebert is losing her Colorado House seat. The Republican incumbent trails Democrat Eileen Laubacher by a narrow margin in Colorado's 4th congressional district, and the race is now heading toward a recount. As of Friday morning, Laubacher led with 48.8 percent of the vote against Boebert's 47.9 percent, with an estimated 97 percent of votes counted and about 12,000 still outstanding.

The result marks a stunning reversal for Boebert, who became one of the most recognizable faces of the Republican Party's far-right wing. Her opponent, Laubacher, is a retired two-star United States Navy rear admiral — a credential that clearly resonated with voters in a district that had been considered safely Republican.

For more on the midterm results, read our coverage of the 2026 midterm elections and how Democrats flipped the House.

What Happened

Boebert's team is not conceding. In a statement released late Thursday, campaign attorney Scott Gessler said the race is far from over. "A significant number of votes remain outstanding in the race. We are fighting for every vote and will continue to ensure every legal vote is counted."

Gessler added that ballot returns have been "trending in Congresswoman Boebert's direction" since election night, consistently lowering the margin under one percentage point. He did not specify what "unusual voting patterns" the campaign has identified.

Under Colorado state law, an election recount is automatically required if the margin of victory is less than or equal to 0.5 percent of the vote. If the margin is larger, Boebert can still request a recount, but she would have to pay for it.

For more on how recounts work, read our coverage of the recount process in Colorado.

Why This Matters

If Boebert loses, it would mean three gains for Democrats in Colorado. Her seat is one of 25 yet to be called in midterm elections where Democrats already have a margin of nearly 100 over Republicans in the House.

The loss would also mark the end of one of the most controversial political careers in modern American politics. Boebert first rose to prominence as a gun-rights activist and restaurant owner before being elected to Congress in 2020. She quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, from her refusal to wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic to her inflammatory comments about Muslims and the LGBTQ+ community.

For more on Boebert's career, read our coverage of Lauren Boebert's political rise and fall.

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