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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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Lauren Boebert has suggested the circumstances surrounding fellow Colorado Representative Ken Buck's resignation are an attempt by Republican Party figures to oust her, and warned that it will "backfire on them spectacularly."
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a clip of conservative commentator Dan Bongino's radio show, Boebert wrote: "The establishment pulling this stunt to try and get rid of me is going to backfire on them spectacularly."
The Context
Buck had previously said that he would not seek reelection in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. However, in a shock announcement on Tuesday, Buck said that he would actually be leaving Congress towards the end of next week.
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Boebert, who won re-election to her 3rd Congressional District against Democrat Adam Frisch in 2022, had said she would be changing district and running to replace Buck in his more Republican-friendly seat.
However, Buck leaving office earlier than expected means that a special election will now need to take place so a new candidate can see out the remainder of his term. Colorado Governor Jared Polis is set to schedule the special election for Buck's seat for June 25, the same day as the primary.
What We Know
Boebert says she will not resign her seat in order to compete in the special election to replace Buck.
If she had done so, a special election would also need to take place to replace her in the district, which could be won by a Democrat and further reduce the GOP's already razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.
Instead, Boebert will try to win the more crowded Republican primary for the seat, which will be held on the same day.
During his radio show, Bongino suggested that the GOP is trying to "ice" Boebert out of office, as she has faced a string of controversies during her political career.
"The establishment doesn't like Lauren Boebert. Matter of fact they hate Lauren Boebert. Lauren Boebert has been a pretty good ally to President Trump," Bongino said.
"So conveniently, the primary for the new 4th Congressional District, the primary that Lauren Boebert is in because she's moving districts, now is likely going to be right around the same time, maybe the same day as the special election to replace Ken Buck.
"'But Dan, that means Lauren Boebert can't run in both,'" Bongino adds while playing both parts of a hypothetical conversation.
"'She can't be the general election special election candidate to replace Buck and be the primary candidate for the November election for Congress in the 4th, because she'd have to leave her seat to run in the special.' Yes. 'That sounds like they're trying to ice Lauren Boebert out of the seat?' Yes."
...
In her post on X, Boebert added: "As usual Dan Bongino gets it and lays it all right out."
In a previous post on X, Boebert confirmed she would not resign her current seat to take part in the special election.
"Ken Buck's announcement yesterday was a gift to the Uniparty. The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I'm winning by 25 points," she said.
"Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months. The 4th District deserves better."
Views
Buck told reporters that he was leaving office early due to dysfunction in U.S. politics.
"I have witnessed this for a while and I think that we are seeing a breakdown of civility, a breakdown of, really, priorities in terms of what the American people want."
What's Next
Boebert will compete with several other Republicans in the primary for Colorado's 4th District on June 25.
A Kaplan Strategies poll in February showed Boebert with a clear lead in the primary (32 percent), followed by state representative Mike Lynch (7 percent), with the remaining six candidates not getting more than 3 percent.
Update 03/14/24, 7:19 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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