Republican Representative Lauren Boebert has conceded her re-election race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District following a narrow defeat by Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher, according to the Associated Press.
Laubacher won the contest by less than one percentage point, securing a major upset in an eastern Colorado district long considered a reliable Republican stronghold.
In a video message released after the final vote count, Boebert confirmed she had called Laubacher to offer her congratulations and pledged an orderly transition for constituent services. Stating that “the people of our district are more important than party politics,” Boebert framed her six-year tenure as a mission rather than a career, adding that she remains committed to advocating for conservative causes outside of office.
First elected in 2020, Boebert rose to national prominence through her staunch advocacy for gun rights and close alignment with Donald Trump. Her time in Congress was also marked by frequent public scrutiny, including criticism surrounding her rhetoric ahead of the January 6 Capitol attack, a 2023 incident at a Denver theatre for which she apologised, and recent friction with Trump over her push to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Laubacher, a retired two-star Navy rear admiral and former National Security Council official who registered as a Democrat in 2025, centred her campaign on military service and bipartisan problem-solving. Following the win, Laubacher stated her campaign focused on putting people first rather than party labels.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene welcomed the outcome, remarking in a statement reported by The Guardian that Boebert’s political “sideshow is over.”
