Democrat Eileen Laubacher Defeats Republican Lauren Boebert in Colorado

Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral and former National Security Council official, claimed victory Monday in the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District. CNN projected Laubacher as the winner on November 9, 2026, with approximately 98% of ballots counted. Laubacher led incumbent Republican Lauren Boebert 48.8% to 47.9%, a margin of roughly 3,300 votes. This result makes Laubacher the first Democrat to represent the district since 2008.

Boebert, a prominent ally of Donald Trump, had moved to the 4th District in 2024 to improve her reelection prospects. Despite a late endorsement from Trump, Boebert faced a campaign where Laubacher significantly outraised her. Boebert has not conceded, releasing a video claiming the race was called prematurely while votes were still being counted or cured.

Boebert's campaign attorney, Scott Gessler, alleged unusual voting patterns and called for a recount. However, the current margin of approximately 0.85% exceeds the 0.5% threshold required for an automatic recount under Colorado law. While Boebert may request a paid recount between November 13 and November 25, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold defended the election's integrity, stating the process is safe, secure, and accurate.

Laubacher, a former Republican who describes herself as a moderate, expressed a desire to work across the aisle to address corruption, end the war in Iran, and roll back tariffs. The victory is part of a broader Democratic shift in Colorado and a national trend where Democrats seized control of both the House and Senate.