Eileen Laubacher takes early lead in Colorado’s 4th District
The former Navy admiral trails incumbent Lauren Boebert by fewer than 5,000 votes as of the early hours of Tuesday morning.
By Mei Melnyk ·
Democrat Eileen Laubacher held a lead of just over 5,000 votes over incumbent Republican Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District as of 12:15 a.m. on Nov. 4. The race covers Eastern Colorado and Douglas County, and the narrow margin places the seat in a state of high uncertainty with the election still in progress.
Boebert maintained her advantage in most counties within the district. However, her opponent held leads in Douglas, Arapahoe, and Larimer counties. These three areas represent some of the most densely populated regions in the district. Boebert’s campaign expressed confidence late Tuesday as additional votes continued to arrive, yet Laubacher’s slim lead persisted through the initial reporting period.
The district has not elected a Democratic representative since 2008. Betsy Markey served as the last Democrat in the seat but did not win re-election. Since first winning the office in 2020, Boebert has never lost a contest for Congress. In that 2020 primary, she defeated incumbent Republican Scott Tipton, making her the first person in Colorado history to unseat a sitting member of her own party since 1972.
Boebert’s previous election in 2022 was narrowly decided. She defeated Democrat Adam Frisch by approximately 500 votes. The margin was small enough to trigger a recount request, although Frisch conceded before the process concluded. She then moved to the open seat in the 4th District in 2024 after longtime Representative Ken Buck stepped down from office.
Pollsters recently shifted their assessment of the district. The Cook Partisan Voting Index had long ranked the 4th District as the most Republican in Colorado. In late October, the Cook Political Report changed the categorization from solid Republican to leans Republican. This adjustment suggested the possibility of an upset in the general election.
Boebert adopted a limited in-person presence during her reelection bid. She skipped local rallies and town halls, appearing in only one virtual town hall on April 28. She also participated in one public debate against Laubacher on Oct. 12. Her relationship with President Donald Trump deteriorated in November 2025 when she pushed for the full release of the Epstein Files. She signed a discharge petition to force the issue and met privately with Trump and his staff. The president later used social media to criticize her, calling her weak-minded and dumb while urging others to run against her.
Laubacher campaigned extensively throughout the district. The former United States Navy Rear Admiral and her supporters spent approximately $12 million on the race. Boebert’s campaign raised $1.1 million according to finance filings. Laubacher changed her party registration from Republican to unaffiliated in 2024 and then registered as a Democrat in 2025.
In September, Laubacher told Colorado Public Radio that representing the district requires listening to constituents and understanding their needs. During their debate, she criticized Boebert for supporting tariffs that increase the cost of living. She also opposed the war in Iran, stating that she understands the cost of war better than most.
The final tally of votes will determine the next representative for the 4th District. The current margin indicates a close contest that may require further scrutiny as all ballots are counted.
Source: Westword
