Meet Eileen Laubacher, the Navy Veteran Who Beat Lauren Boebert

Colorado Democrat Eileen Laubacher has emerged victorious in the fiercely contested House race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert by a narrow margin, according to CBS News. The race was a tight contest, with only a 1% vote difference between the two candidates by the projected results, which were announced 10 days after Election Day.

Laubacher, a retired two-star rear admiral in the Navy, claimed victory earlier this week, despite thousands of votes still to be counted. Boebert addressed reporters on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Monday, emphasizing that the counting process was ongoing and that they needed to ensure every vote was accurately recorded. She mentioned that military and overseas ballots were still coming in and that the final numbers would be revealed soon.

Laubacher, a former Republican who changed her party affiliation, is described as a common-sense candidate who aims to achieve results. Her key priorities include reducing costs, combating corruption, and enhancing rural healthcare access. She attended the U.S. Capitol on Monday alongside other newly-elected members of the 120th Congress for the first day of New Member Orientation, following Democrats' gains in both chambers during the midterm elections.

The district Laubacher will represent encompasses the eastern third of Colorado, including parts of Douglas County south of Denver and Loveland in Northern Colorado. Boebert had previously served two terms in the state's 3rd Congressional District before switching districts and winning the 4th in 2024. The Republican faced some challenges recently, including a temporary protection order issued by a Weld County judge against a man alleging sexual relationships with Boebert and her staff members, as well as a $200,000 payment purportedly made to one of her former aides to maintain the alleged involvement in secret. Boebert did not encounter a primary election challenger earlier this year.