Published November 14, 2026 · By
Lauren Boebert has lost her seat in Congress. The Associated Press projected on Friday, November 13, that Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral running for office for the first time, defeated the three-term Republican in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, a seat President Donald Trump carried by 18 points in 2024.
The call came 10 days after polls closed, once county election officials posted final unofficial totals. It makes Colorado's 4th District one of the last House races of the 2026 midterms to be settled and adds another seat to the new Democratic majority that takes control of the House in January.
Lauren Boebert Race: The Final Numbers
According to the count reported by Colorado Politics on Friday, Laubacher finished with 48.81% of the vote, Lauren Boebert received 47.88%, and Libertarian Douglas Mangeris took 3.31%. With roughly 99% of ballots tallied and just under 384,000 votes counted, Laubacher led by 3,546 votes, a margin of 0.93 percentage points.
That gap is wider than Colorado's threshold for an automatic recount, which applies only when the margin is 0.5% or less of the winner's total. A candidate can still request a recount under state law but must pay for it.
Key figures at a glance
- Eileen Laubacher (D): 48.81%
- Lauren Boebert (R): 47.88%
- Douglas Mangeris (L): 3.31%
- Margin: 3,546 votes, about 0.93 points
- Ballots counted: just under 384,000, roughly 99% of the total
- 2024 presidential result in the district: Trump by 18 points
How the call unfolded
CNN projected Laubacher the winner on Monday, November 9, and she claimed victory that day. The Lauren Boebert campaign said it was too early. In a statement reported by Colorado Politics, Boebert compared the early declaration to frosting a cake before it is baked and pledged to make sure every eligible vote was counted. Her campaign attorney, Scott Gessler, called the early declaration irresponsible.
Counties accepted cured ballots and military and overseas ballots through Thursday night, November 12. The AP made its projection on Friday after those totals were posted.
What Lauren Boebert and Eileen Laubacher Said
Boebert's response
Deseret News reported that Lauren Boebert conceded on Friday in a video message, saying she had called Laubacher to congratulate her and that the people of the district matter more than party politics. Before the AP call, Colorado Politics reported that a campaign fundraising email said the team expected a recount one way or another. Boebert had also said before Election Day that she would not seek a rematch if she lost.
In an AP report carried by PBS, Lauren Boebert reflected on her party's losses, saying, "We collectively failed." In a NewsNation interview described by The Daily Beast, she questioned whether Republican lawmakers will keep following President Trump's lead after the midterms. She said the Republican-led Senate had not acted on some of the president's priorities, including the SAVE America Act, and suggested close ties to the administration could become a liability for Republicans in 2028. She also said she does not expect to take a job in the administration.
Laubacher's message
Laubacher, 58, is a former National Security Council official who lives in Highlands Ranch. Deseret News reported that she was a longtime Republican who later became unaffiliated before running as a Democrat. In her victory statement, she said that "making history means nothing if we don't make a difference" and promised to put constituents ahead of party labels.
Her stated priorities include lowering costs, protecting health care, strengthening rural communities and taking on corruption in both parties. During the campaign, she said voters wanted common ground on affordability, health care and housing.
Why the Lauren Boebert Loss Stands Out
The 4th District is anchored by Douglas County and covers all or part of 21 counties, including the Eastern Plains and the Loveland area. Republicans have routinely won it by more than 20 points, and Democrats last held it in 2008. Lauren Boebert won the seat by 11 points in 2024 against Democrat Trisha Calvarese.
According to Colorado Politics, Laubacher carried the more populated parts of Douglas, Larimer and Arapahoe counties, while Lauren Boebert led in smaller rural counties. Forecasters had shifted the race to "leans Republican" the week before the election.
Boebert's path in Congress
Lauren Boebert first won the 3rd District on Colorado's Western Slope in 2020 after defeating Rep. Scott Tipton in the Republican primary. In 2022 she held that seat by 546 votes over Democrat Adam Frisch after a recount. In late 2023, after the 4th District's Republican incumbent announced his retirement, she moved across the state to run there and won in 2024. She campaigned this year on support for President Trump, border security, energy production and cuts to federal spending and regulation.
A national spotlight
Lauren Boebert became one of the most recognized members of the House during her three terms, and searches for her name surged on Friday as the AP call spread. Her race drew attention well beyond Colorado because it tested whether a strongly Republican district would hold in a year when Democrats gained ground across the country. The Daily Beast noted that she broke with President Trump in November 2025 over the release of the Epstein files, though Trump endorsed her anyway. Lauren Boebert is now one of several Republican incumbents in once-safe seats who will not return in January.
A changed Colorado delegation
With this result, Democrats will hold seven of Colorado's eight House seats. Rep. Jeff Hurd in the 3rd District will be the only Republican in the state's delegation. Democrats also flipped the 8th District, where Manny Rutinel defeated Rep. Gabe Evans, and the 5th District, where Jessica Killin defeated Rep. Jeff Crank. Nationally, Democrats secured a House majority on election night, and races in states such as Alaska's close Senate count are still being finalized.
What It Means for You
The following section is Meridian Pioneer analysis based on the reporting above.
If you live in Colorado's 4th District
Lauren Boebert remains your representative until the new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027. Her office can still help with casework, such as delayed Social Security payments, veterans benefits, passport problems or IRS issues, so there is no need to wait if you have an open case. After January 3, those requests will go to Laubacher's office.
Results are still unofficial until counties and the state complete certification. You can follow official totals and canvass updates on the Colorado Secretary of State's elections page.
For households nationwide
Each additional seat widens the margin the incoming Democratic majority will have when it writes spending bills, sets committee agendas and decides which issues reach the House floor. That matters for programs many families depend on, from Medicaid and Social Security administration to farm support and federal disaster aid.
Near-term decisions still rest with the current Congress. Lawmakers face a December 11 funding deadline, and the outcome will shape whether agencies keep running smoothly into early 2027. Our coverage of the government shutdown risk explains what is at stake for federal services and paychecks.
What to watch next
- Whether either campaign formally requests and pays for a recount
- Any further public comments from Lauren Boebert about her plans after leaving Congress
- County and state certification of the final Colorado results
- Committee assignments for incoming members like Laubacher
- How the smaller Republican minority approaches spending and tariff votes in 2027
This article is for information only and is not financial advice.
Sources: Associated Press via PBS NewsHour; ABC News; Colorado Politics/The Gazette; Deseret News; The Daily Beast; Colorado Secretary of State.
