Lauren Boebert Switching Colorado Districts Might Spectacularly Backfire

House Republican Lauren Boebert announced on Wednesday that she's seeking to switch districts, from Colorado's third congressional district to its more conservative fourth, in what the Donald Trump supporting firebrand said would be a "fresh start" following a "pretty difficult year for me and my family."

The move inserts Boebert into a tough GOP primary fight to replace Representative Ken Buck, who has announced he won't seek re-election in a district he won with just over 60 percent of the vote in November 2022. By contrast, at that election, Boebert only narrowly beat Adam Frisch by around 500 votes, with the self-styled "conservative Democrat" having already announced a second bid for the district in 2024.

However, Boebert's move has already sparked a backlash from Republicans in Colorado's fourth congressional district, including from state Representative Richard Holtorf who had already announced a bid for the House seat. In a statement responding to Boebert's announcement, he commented: "If you can't win in your home you can't win here. She knew she'd lose in her own district and I'll show her that'll she'll lose here too."

Since her election in 2020, Boebert has established herself as one of the most outspoken House Republicans, attracting attention by heckling President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address and launching an early bid to impeach the White House incumbent. However, she has also sparked controversy over her assertive style and behavior, most notably in September when she and a male partner were asked to leave a performance of the musical Beetlejuice in Denver after repeatedly vaping and recording the show. Boebert later apologized after footage emerged which appeared to show the congresswoman and her companion groping each other during the performance.

Colorado's third congressional district contains a large predominantly rural western swath of the state. In contrast, the fourth district covers an eastern section, including the entirety of Colorado's eastern state border, though it is also largely rural. Boebert currently lives in Garfield County, in Colorado's third congressional district, though she indicated she will move to the state's fourth district in 2024. There is no requirement for her to live in the district she represents as long as she resides within the wider state.

Boebert, who was facing a strong primary challenge in Colorado's third district from Republican lawyer Jeff Hurd, will face fierce competition from other GOP candidates in her new district. In addition to Holtorf, Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg, former state Senator Ted Harvey, conservative radio host Deborah Flora and business owner Trent Leisy are already standing in the GOP primary for Colorado's fourth congressional district.

Leisy hit out angrily at Boebert on X, formerly Twitter, after she announced her switch. He wrote: "Lauren Boebert has officially given the Democrats a Congressional seat by switching districts to run in my race. This move would give the Democrats control of the House. Lauren should be a fighter and keep her district red!

"In Congress, I would NEVER vote to expand FISA and am running in a district that I actually live in."

Boebert was one of 147 House Republicans who voted earlier this month to approve the National Defense Authorization Act which included an extension to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which Trump had previously claimed was used to surveil his 2016 presidential campaign.

Asked why Boebert had made the decision, Leisy later added: "She knows she will lose in CO03 so she wants to have a career in DC. I believe the voters will read right through it. This will have a major blow back on her."

Leisy had already established himself firmly as a candidate of the GOP right for Colorado's fourth congressional district, calling for the Colorado Supreme Court justices who removed Trump for the state ballot earlier this month to be arrested and charged with treason.

In a statement provided to Newsweek about Boebert's decision to switch districts, Frisch said: "Boebert is running scared from CD-3 because she knows she can't match our campaign's ability to connect with voters and the hard work we have put in to provide them with a common sense voice in Congress, including driving over 45,000 miles and holding hundreds of public meetings in every corner of this great district.

"Even before the Beetlejuice debacle that embarrassed her constituents, our campaign was polling ahead of Boebert because voters saw that we were showing up in their communities and appreciated the hard work, authenticity, sincerity, and independence that this campaign embodies."

Newsweek has reached out to Boebert's campaign for comment by email.

Update 12/29/23, 2:23 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Adam Frisch.