Critics of Republican Representative Lauren Boebert took to social media to celebrate as one early projection showed the polarizing conservative lawmaker losing her bid for a fourth term in Congress.
The projection from CNN -- no other outlet has made the call -- indicates that Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy Rear Admiral who served over three decades in military service, will flip Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.
With an estimated 98 percent of the vote counted, CNN reported Laubacher holding 48.8 percent, or 185,923 votes, to Boebert’s 47.9 percent, or 182,686 votes. Libertarian candidate Douglas Mangeris drew 3.3 percent, or 12,605 votes.
Following the projection, opponents of the MAGA firebrand congresswoman quickly weighed in online. Many posts referenced Boebert’s 2023 removal from a Denver theater during a performance of the musical “Beetlejuice.” The congresswoman was escorted out of the Denver venue after vaping, singing, taking flash photos and groping her date — an incident she initially denied until security camera footage was released, prompting a public apology tour.
Laubacher also weighed in on the CNN projection, releasing a statement on social media that she is grateful for all the support that led to victory and ready to get to work for the people of Colorado. “We made history. Now let’s make a difference,” she said in part.
Boebert denied the claims in a video posted to X hours later.
“Just a quick reminder that counties still have until November 13th under Colorado law to finish counting and curing every eligible ballot,” she says. “Declaring victory now is like icing a cake before it comes out of the oven.”
Election week isn’t finished!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) November 10, 2026
Let’s finish counting every vote and hearing every voice before declaring anything. pic.twitter.com/eHhSDNauun
Author Don Winslow reacted to the early call on X, writing, “LAUREN BOEBERT HAS LOST! TODAY IS A GREAT DAY.”
Progressive commentator Isaiah Martin posted, “LAUREN BOEBERT, YOU'RE FIRED!!!!!!”
The tight contest follows a strategic gamble by the 39-year-old congresswoman, who opted to switch from Colorado’s 3rd District to the more reliably Republican 4th District last cycle to safeguard her seat. The move came after a razor-thin 2022 victory over Democrat Adam Frisch by just 546 votes, though she later secured reelection in 2024 by more than 11 points.
Political commentator Adam Mockler pointed to her shift between districts, posting on X, “The best part is, Lauren Boebert moved to a ‘safer’ district and still lost.”
Throughout her time in the House of Representatives, Boebert established herself as a central figure in the party’s MAGA wing, frequently drawing national attention and internal party tension.
Former President Joe Biden once singled her out as “one of the leaders of this extreme MAGA movement” following her heckling during his 2022 State of the Union address, and her vocal stance frequently presented management challenges for Republican Speakers Kevin McCarthy and Mike Johnson.
Her relationship with Donald Trump also experienced turbulent moments despite his late endorsement praising her as a “MAGA Warrior.”
Trump briefly targeted her earlier in the year after she campaigned with Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, calling her “dumb” and “weak-minded” while threatening to pull his support.
Boebert further broke rank with House GOP leadership and the Trump administration when she backed a Democratic effort to release Jeffrey Epstein case files, defying party leaders who cited privacy concerns for victims.
Laubacher’s campaign focused heavily on local economic and affordability issues while capitalizing on broader national headwinds facing the Republican Party.
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