Lauren Boebert Rages Against Plan That Could Keep Republicans Off Ballots

Representative Lauren Boebert is strongly opposing a proposed Colorado 2024 ballot measure plan that could keep Republicans off ballots.

According to the Colorado Sun, a newly proposed 2024 ballot measure would amend the Colorado Constitution and adopt an open primary system and ranked-choice voting in general elections while also doing away with the caucus and assembly process of putting candidates on the ballot. If approved, the constitutional amendment would take effect in the 2026 election when the offices of governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and a U.S. Senate seat will be up for grabs.

Since assuming office in January 2021 after pulling off a surprise primary win against GOP incumbent Scott Tipton in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, Boebert has emerged as one of Donald Trump's most enthusiastic supporters in the House.

In response to the proposed ballot measure, Boebert took to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday to share her thoughts calling it an "effort to rig our electoral system."

"I will oppose this effort to rig our electoral system in Colorado with everything I have. Ranked choice voting is a scheme launched by well-moneyed interests who are only concerned with their own power and not giving Coloradans a choice at the ballot box," Boebert wrote on X.

Newsweek has reached out to Boebert via email for comment.

The Republican congresswoman continued by noting the measure will "diminish" the voice of Republicans at the ballot box.

"Grassroots Republican voters deserve to choose our GOP candidates and they will reject this blatant attempt to diminish their voices," Boebert added.

However, Kent Thiry, a wealthy former CEO of the Denver-based dialysis provider DaVita, who is behind the proposal, said it's a response to sharp partisan divisions in Colorado and across the nation that he sees as a threat to democracy.

"I think this is about bringing voice and choice back to the people," Thiry told The Colorado Sun. "Whether they're Democrats, Republicans or independents, they need their voice and choice back."

Newsweek has reached out to Thiry via email for comment.

Under the proposed open primary system, all candidates for elective office from the state legislative level on up would run on a single ballot, regardless of their party affiliation. The top four vote-getters would advance to the general election.

While in the general election, voters would rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the first-preference votes, they would be declared the winner. If no candidate reaches that threshold, candidates with the fewest first-preference supporters would be eliminated.

The proposed measure comes as Boebert is facing a two-pronged battle for her political future, with a primary challenge from fellow Republican Jeff Hurd ahead of a possible rematch with her 2022 opponent, Democrat Adam Frisch.

The Republican congresswoman has also been at the center of criticism after Boebert and her companion were escorted out of the Buell Theater in Denver on September 10. She initially made light of the incident on X posting, "It's true, I did thoroughly enjoy the AMAZING Beetlejuice at the Buell Theatre and I plead guilty to laughing and singing too loud! Everyone should go see it if you get the chance this week and please let me know how it ends!"

However, after footage was released showing her vaping during the performance, as well as groping and being groped by her companion, she issued an apology.

"The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I'm truly sorry for the unwanted attention my Sunday evening in Denver has brought to the community," she said. "While none of my actions or words as a private citizen that night were intended to be malicious or meant to cause harm, the reality is they did and I regret that."

Meanwhile, getting the measure on the 2024 ballot won't be easy as Thiry and other supporters of the proposal will have to collect roughly 125,000 voter signatures that represent a sample of at least 2 percent of voters in each of Colorado's 35 state Senate districts. The measure would then have to be approved by 55 percent of the electorate because it would amend the constitution.