It’s official: Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of the most loyal and outspoken supporters of President Donald Trump, has lost her re-election bid in Colorado following the Republican Party’s historic defeat in the November 3 midterm elections.
The Associated Press called the race on Friday, November 13, and confirmed that Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, had defeated the three-term congresswoman.
Lauren Boebert Giving A Speech. Creative Commons Photo.
The defeat is particularly stunning as the district was one of the most conservative in Colorado.
It is also newsworthy given that President Donald Trump carried the 4th Congressional District by more than 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
Boebert moved to the district that year after she only narrowly won re-election in her previous district in 2022. But even that Republican stronghold couldn’t protect her from what has been dubbed the 2026 “Blue Wave” or “Blue Tsunami.”
As Republicans and commentators wonder whether the Make America Great Again movement is dead, Congress just lost another of its most recognizable MAGA figures.
Lauren Boebert Concedes Defeat
The Associated Press called the race for Laubacher at 12:53 pm local time, with the Democratic candidate leading 48.8% to 47.9% at the time the race was called.
Boebert had refused to concede until that point, telling reporters that outstanding ballots could still change the outcome.
By Friday evening, however, the Republican legislator published a video in which she said she had contacted Laubacher to congratulate her on the win.
The congresswoman also said that she told her Democratic opponent that “the people of our district are more important than party politics.”
She also said that she was not done with public political life, stating, “and this is not the last you’ll be hearing from me.”
Lauren Boebert Back in 2022 Creative Commons Photo
CBS Colorado reported that Boebert promised to cooperate with Laubacher’s incoming congressional team and transfer all outstanding constituent cases.
Democrats Flip Ultra-Conservative Colorado Seat
The news should come as a warning to Republicans who believe that, even in the face of challenges, some seats will reliably vote Republican. Colorado Public Radio notes that Republicans had an average 25-point advantage in the district when the boundaries were established in 2021.
The district includes Colorado’s Eastern Plains and portions of several Front Range counties, including Douglas, Adams, Arapahoe, Larimer, and Weld.
Democrats still made significant gains, however, including in Douglas County, where Laubacher defeated Boebert by approximately 11 percentage points.
That county contains much of the district’s population and has become increasingly competitive recently.
Laubacher also had a substantial fundraising advantage over Boebert, which partially explains the win, too.
She collected more than $13 million in donations compared with just $1.2 million raised by Boebert.
It means that the Democrats will hold seven of the eight congressional seats in Colorado when the new Congress convenes in January.
Who Is Laubacher?
Laubacher’s credentials could also help explain the win.
Laubacher served more than thirty years in the Navy and previously worked on the National Security Council during the Biden administration.
Laubacher is by no means an ultra-progressive, either, running as a moderate Democrat who promised to represent voters regardless of their political affiliation.
She also had the advantage of having been a registered Republican before becoming unaffiliated and later joining the Democratic Party.
Lauren Boebert in 2025. Creative Commons Image.
During the election campaign, Laubacher gained support by criticizing President Trump’s tariff policies, which have been widely credited with raising prices, and the ongoing war with Iran, which has also driven gas prices higher.
She also opposed Republican-backed Medicaid reductions and warned that rural hospitals could suffer financially under Republican leadership.
After her win, Laubacher acknowledged that her victory would not immediately solve those economic problems.
What About Trump’s Relationship With Boebert?
The election loss is significant for MAGA because it represents a loss of interest among even dedicated Republican and Trump voters in the administration’s current agenda.
But it’s also interesting because Boebert’s relationship with the president has been unpredictable in recent years.
Although she was one of the president’s most prominent supporters for many years, during his second term their relationship changed.
The congresswoman broke with the Trump administration over the release of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein and supported a petition in Congress that helped force a vote on the issue.
Then, she supported Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a Trump critic, prompting the president to publicly criticize her.
Trump described Boebert as “weak-minded” and “dumb,” and suggested that he would welcome a primary challenge against her.
Trump also vetoed a water infrastructure bill sponsored by Boebert, despite it receiving unanimous approval in Congress.
But despite their disagreements, the president ultimately endorsed Boebert in October and even participated in a telephone rally supporting her campaign in the days before the election.
That telephone rally, it seems, may have ultimately contributed to her loss, based on polling data that shows the president’s unpopularity.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
