Trump-backed Boebert loses Colorado re-election bid despite president's endorsement after fallout
WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Rep Lauren Boebert on Friday, November 13, lost her re-election bid in Colorado's 4th Congressional District to Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher.
The result came more than a week after Election Day, with Laubacher maintaining a lead of just over 3,400 votes. Boebert conceded the contest in a video message, confirming that she had called Laubacher to congratulate her on the victory.
Trump's fallout with Lauren Boebert over Epstein files and Colorado water bill
Boebert rose to national prominence as a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement after entering Colorado politics in 2019. She first won election to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional District in 2020, narrowly retained her seat in 2022 and moved to the 4th District, a Republican stronghold, before winning election there in 2024.
Her outspoken support for Trump and aggressive criticism of Democrats helped establish her as one of the most prominent conservative voices in the House. However, tensions emerged during Trump's second term when Boebert joined three other House Republicans in pushing for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, despite efforts by the White House to persuade her to withdraw her support for the discharge petition.
Trump subsequently criticized Boebert, calling her a "carpetbagger", "dumb" and "weak-minded" on different occasions. The president also invited potential candidates to challenge her in the Republican primary, although the filing deadline had already passed. Trump, however, eventually endorsed her re-election campaign.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is an America First Patriot, who is doing an incredible job representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District! A MAGA Warrior, who has been with us from the very beginning, Lauren is working hard to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Support our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Lauren’s opponent, Eileen Laubacher, is a Radical Left Democrat who is opposed to NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY and, if she and the Dumocrats ever got in, all of these things will be terminated. She wants massive Tax Increases, Open Borders, Men playing in Women’s Sports, and Transgender Mutilization of your Children. Eileen Laubacher is Reckless, Radical, and Dangerous! Lauren Boebert has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election. GET OUT AND VOTE FOR LAUREN — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! President DONALD J. TRUMP https://t.co/kt2O3rfrfj ( TS: Oct 30 2026, 5:24 PM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 30, 2026
Another point of disagreement came when Trump vetoed a bill sponsored by Boebert that would have funded a drinking water project in Colorado's 4th District. The legislation had passed both the House and Senate unanimously.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like denying clean drinking water to 50,000 people in south-east Colorado many of whom enthusiastically voted for him all three elections,” Boebert said in a statement at the time. “But hey, if this administration wants to make its legacy blocking projects that deliver water to rural Americans; that’s on them.”
Years ago, while in fervent prayer inside my restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, I cried out “Here I am, Lord! Send me!” I did not know at that time where He would send me. He sent me to 53 Colorado counties and to our Nation’s Capitol. He sent me to serve. My time to be sent to another unknown place is now. God’s got this. He’s got US! Jesus is Lord and I am proud to live in the greatest country on earth! Stay Tuned!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) November 13, 2026
In her concession message, Boebert said that she had spoken to Laubacher and congratulated her, adding that "the people of our district are more important than party politics."
Navy veteran Eileen Laubacher defeats Lauren Boebert in Colorado election
Laubacher, a former Republican who served in the US Navy for more than 30 years and retired as a two-star rear admiral, entered the race as a first-time candidate challenging one of the most recognizable conservative lawmakers in Congress. She had led Boebert for much of the vote-counting process, with the margin between the candidates remaining narrow but outside Colorado's automatic recount threshold.
Laubacher's campaign attracted significant financial support, raising substantially more than Boebert. State and national Democrats viewed her moderate positions and military background as factors that could help her appeal to Republican and independent voters in the traditionally Republican district.
Laubacher, who had previously been a Republican and briefly registered as unaffiliated, said she changed her affiliation to Democrat to give herself a better chance of defeating Boebert. She said that her views of the Republican Party had changed "dramatically" and that she now felt more aligned with the Democratic Party.
The work starts now! #eileenforcolorado #coloradopolitics #midterms2026 #co4 https://t.co/NOJij88hyn
— Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher (@EileenforCO) November 9, 2026
Laubacher declared victory after CNN called the race on Monday, November 9, and described the result as historic, while stressing that winning the election was only the beginning of her responsibilities. "To those who voted for me, thank you, I will strive to make you proud. To those who didn't, I'll fight just as hard for you and hope to earn your support," she said.
