Republican Representative Lauren Boebert has announced her decision to change congressional districts, steering clear of a potential rematch against a Democrat who has significantly outpaced her in fundraising. This move comes in the wake of an embarrassing incident involving inappropriate touching and vaping, which even unsettled some of her steadfast supporters.
Boebert made the announcement through a Facebook video on Wednesday evening, stating her intention to join the crowded Republican primary for the seat being vacated by Representative Ken Buck on the eastern side of the state. Consequently, she will be relinquishing the more contested 3rd District seat that she secured in the previous year.
“The Aspen donors, George Soros and Hollywood actors that are trying to buy this seat, well they can go pound sand,” she said.
She had already encountered a primary challenge within her district, coupled with a looming general election showdown against Democrat Adam Frisch, a former member of the Aspen city council who came remarkably close to defeating her in 2022, falling short by just a few hundred votes. Anticipating a rematch, Frisch had amassed a substantial fundraising advantage, with at least $7.7 million compared to Boebert’s $2.4 million.
In a strategic move, if Boebert secures victory in the primary to succeed Representative Ken Buck, she will transition to represent the state’s most conservative district. This district, which former President Donald Trump carried by approximately 20 percentage points in 2020, presents a significant contrast to the narrower 8 percentage-point margin he had in her current district. While it is not mandatory for a representative to reside within the congressional district they represent, Boebert has indicated her intention to relocate to the eastern part of the state.
By: Montana Newsroom
