Boebert finishes fifth in straw poll of new district

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) came in fifth place in a straw poll of voters in the district where the controversial congresswoman recently relocated and is trying to win reelection to the House.

Boebert, who was first elected to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in 2020, announced last month she would switch districts and instead run for reelection this year in the 4th District, after its House member, Rep. Ken Buck (R), decided to retire from Congress. 

The new district for Boebert would likely give her a significantly better chance at reelection if she wins the Republican nomination. She currently represents a swing district, and Boebert had seemed likely before her switch to face off a second time against Democrat Adam Frisch, whom she defeated in 2022 by fewer than 600 votes. 

The 4th District, meanwhile, is a solidly Republican district that has elected a Democratic House member only once in the past 50 years. 

But the results of the straw poll Thursday, which followed the first debate among GOP candidates running for that district, indicates Boebert may have an uphill battle. 

Colorado Politics reported that Boebert’s finish in the middle of the nine-candidate pack drew some gasps and some shrugs. She received 12 votes from debate attendees, about 10 percent of the total.

Ahead of her were Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg with 22 votes, former Colorado House Minority Leader Mike Lynch with 20 votes, Douglas County filmmaker Deborah Flora with 18 votes and state House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf with 17 votes, the outlet reported.

The straw poll included only candidates who attended the debate and is not considered a scientific poll of the district, such as one a polling firm would perform. 

Boebert campaign manager Drew Sexton told The Washington Examiner in a statement that Boebert is working to earn constituents’ support. He also noted that the debate and straw poll were held in Colorado’s 8^th Congressional District.

“Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is focused on earning the support of all 4th District voters,” Sexton said. “A straw poll of 10 candidates and their supporters that took place in the 8th District where ticket sales closed days after she announced is of no concern and doesn’t provide a realistic snapshot of the district.”

Republican candidates running for the 8^th District also participated in a separate debate, and voters from the district took part in a straw poll Thursday.

Boebert defended her decision to switch districts during the debate, against accusations of carpetbagging, saying she and her family needed a “fresh start.” 

“There are many folks that cannot vote for me, and I vote for them each and every day. The crops may be different in Colorado’s 4th District, but the values are not, and I’m a proven fighter for the values that you all believe in — that you want to secure your rights, your children’s future,” she said.

Tammy Klein, the organizer of the debate, told Colorado Politics that only two-thirds of those who attended the debate participated in the straw poll, which she said was disappointing. 

“In all honesty, I don’t think the candidates had time to rally all their supporters to buy tickets, especially with as many candidates as there were,” she said.

The outlet reported that some candidates’ campaigns bought a bloc of tickets, but Klein said no one campaign packed the event with supporters.

Updated at 1:06 pm on Jan. 31.