Democrat Eileen Laubacher Defeats Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 4th District, a Seat Trump Won by 18

Rep. Lauren Boebert is out. Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral, won Colorado's 4th Congressional District, the Associated Press declared Friday, Nov. 13, ten days after Election Day.

NBC News put the count at 187,488 for Laubacher and 184,047 for Boebert with 99% of ballots counted. That is a gap of 3,441 votes. By the percentages, Laubacher had 48.7% and Boebert 47.9%. Libertarian Douglas Mangeris took a little over 3%.

The district voted for Donald Trump by 18 points in 2024. Boebert won it that year by more than 11 points, or over 50,000 votes.

A margin too wide for an automatic recount

The lead is just under 0.9 points, which puts it clear of Colorado's automatic recount threshold of half a point.

Boebert had not been ready to give up. Her campaign attorney said last week the campaign was looking into "unusual voting patterns" and expected a recount. No evidence of irregularities has been presented, and no complaint or legal challenge has been announced.

CNN called the race Monday, Nov. 9, as members returned to the Capitol. Laubacher claimed victory that week. Boebert pushed back, saying Democrats were trying to "prematurely declare victory." She noted that under Colorado law, election officials had until Friday, Nov. 13, to finish counting.

On the Capitol steps Monday night, Boebert said: "We've been curing ballots for over a week, and you know we... we need to make sure that every vote counts and every voice is heard. We still have military and overseas ballots that are coming in, and we'll see what that number is."

That was a lawful position. The counting window was open, and the call came on the deadline day. No Boebert concession has been announced.

Who beat her

Laubacher is a retired two-star rear admiral who served more than three decades in the Navy, including in Afghanistan. She worked at the National Security Council in the Biden administration, as special assistant to the president and senior director for South Asia. She has never held elected office.

She is also a former Republican who lives in Highlands Ranch. Laubacher says she switched parties because the GOP became "nearly unrecognizable." Her stated priorities were keeping costs down, fighting corruption and improving rural healthcare access.

The Washington Post reports she far outraised Boebert. Boebert agrees on the money. "There was a lot of money dumped on my head," she said after the election.

Boebert's own explanation

Boebert did not blame voters, at least not entirely. She blamed her party's performance. "A lot of it was messaging. A lot of it was us not passing good enough legislation. A lot of it was the Senate," she told Raw Story.

Back at the Capitol this week she was blunter: "We collectively failed. The American people let us know we have failed in this governing experience for this Congress."

The record backs her on one point. Her loss is not an isolated event. NBC News projects Democrats will hold 259 House seats once every race is called. Fox News reported Democratic flips in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina and Mississippi. The AP calls this the most lopsided election in half a century.

A complicated relationship with Trump

Boebert's relationship with the president was not smooth heading into November. In November 2025 she was one of four House Republicans who signed a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Justice Department's Jeffrey Epstein files, against Trump's wishes. Administration officials tried to get her to reverse course.

Trump still endorsed her, but only last month, after the Cook Political Report moved the race from "solid Republican" to "lean Republican."

In the only debate, Boebert defended Trump's tariffs but called for an end to the war with Iran. Laubacher said she supported some tariffs but argued Americans are paying for them.

Boebert also had off-the-trail trouble. A Weld County judge granted her a temporary protection order against David Wheeler, a North Carolina man she says is spreading lies about her and her staff. Wheeler has claimed she had sexual relationships with three staffers and arranged a $200,000 payment to one former aide. Those are his claims. Boebert disputes them, and no charges or findings have been reported.

What comes next

Laubacher attended New Member Orientation in Washington on Monday with the rest of the incoming class of the 120th Congress. Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is the incoming House Minority Leader. He will lead a conference that has lost a seat Republicans carried by 18 points two years ago.

Several House races remain uncalled nearly two weeks after Election Day. The final size of the Democratic majority is still open.