Democrat Eileen Laubacher Defeats Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 4th District

Democrat Eileen Laubacher defeated Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, according to projections made on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, about 10 days after Election Day. The Associated Press called the race with 99% of ballots counted. Reported margins varied: one account put Laubacher ahead 48.7% to 47.9%, another 49.8% to 47.9%, a lead of just over 3,000 votes. Libertarian Douglas Mangeris took a little over 3%. Boebert, 39, had won the district by 11.6 points in 2024, and the Cook Political Report had rated the seat as leaning Republican. Laubacher had claimed victory earlier in the week. On Monday night, Boebert told reporters at the U.S. Capitol that military and overseas ballots were still arriving, and her campaign said it was investigating unusual voter patterns. Laubacher is a retired two-star Navy rear admiral who worked on the National Security Council under President Biden. She is a Highlands Ranch resident and a former Republican. She lists lower costs, fighting corruption and rural healthcare access as priorities. In a local interview, Boebert blamed the Iran war for Republican losses. Democrats also flipped seats in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina and Mississippi.

Left-leaning outlets centered on the winner and the process. CBS News reported the projection, Laubacher's résumé and priorities, and Boebert's remarks about ballots still being cured. MS NOW's headline framed the result as a failed attempt by Boebert to salvage her career by switching districts, and noted that Laubacher left the GOP over its direction. Right-leaning outlets centered on the national picture and on Boebert. Fox News headlined another Democratic flip, gave detailed vote shares and the third-party total, and cited Democrats' 256-169 House lead, with little on Laubacher's background. The Daily Mail used harsher language, citing years of scandals and a 'bluenami,' and added Boebert's Iran war comments and her campaign's voter-pattern claim. Both sides agree on the narrow AP-called result. Reuters briefly described Boebert as a colorful conservative.