Rep. Lauren Boebert has expressed concerns regarding the special election scheduled to occur in the district where she recently relocated.
Republican Rep. Ken Buck, who represents Colorado’s 4th congressional district, made the decision to step down from his position in the House of Representatives. Buck announced on Tuesday that he will be resigning in a mere two weeks.
Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, has announced that he plans to hold a special election on June 25th. This election is intended to fill the seat left vacant by Representative Ken Buck’s resignation. Interestingly, this special election falls on the same day as the highly contested GOP primary, which Representative Lauren Boebert entered towards the end of last year.
“This primary could potentially confuse voters, and that is a significant concern,” expressed Boebert during a conversation on an X Space platform with her fellow Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida and recently expelled Rep. George Santos from New York.
Boebert is currently engaged in a fiercely competitive primary race against multiple GOP candidates in the district, which encompasses the eastern region of the state. Accusations of carpetbagging have been leveled against her for leaving the more competitive 3rd district, which spans the opposite side of the state.
The GOP primary voters will have the power to decide the primary, however, the responsibility of selecting each party’s nominee for the special election will rest with a group of local party officials.
Boebert remarked that the situation is rather swampy, referring to Buck’s choice to step down from Congress before completing his term, which has led to the current circumstances.
The congresswoman highlighted that scheduling both elections on the same day is a cost-saving measure for taxpayers.
According to Boebert, it is surprising to see sudden concern about this issue in Colorado. She remarked, “First time I’ve ever heard of that in Colorado.”
Despite her national fame, Boebert does not have much influence over the local party’s decision on the candidate for the special election.
The candidate who secures the nomination is expected to serve in Congress from July to December, as the district leans conservative. Being chosen by the vacancy committee could also provide them with an edge in the primary elections.
The congresswoman emphasized that she is not officially declaring her intentions for the special election. However, she expressed her preference for the local party to select a candidate who is not currently participating in the primary.
She stated that she “would never allow” another special election to take place in her current district if she were to be chosen. This approach would prevent any primary candidate from gaining an unfair advantage.
Boebert expressed that everyone is in the process of figuring things out. She mentioned that they are currently engaging in discussions with the vacancy committee to understand their strategy and ascertain whether they have any non-candidate individuals who are considering running in the special election.
