Three months after Rep. Lauren Boebert’s apology for her disruptive conduct at a Denver theater, the Colorado Republican was once again the center of attention at a Republican gala in Manhattan, headlined by former President Donald Trump. Her behavior at the event, including repeated attempts to take selfies with Trump, raised eyebrows among attendees.
Despite the incident, Trump gave Boebert his full endorsement last month, a move her allies interpret as a sign of his lack of concern over her behavior. They argue that her boisterous personality can often be misunderstood, especially by those unfamiliar with her.
As Boebert fights to maintain her congressional career, she must address concerns about her controversial behavior and accusations of carpetbagging. She aims to convince voters in a new district that she is the best choice to represent a rural seat in eastern Colorado. Her allies insist that her personal life will not define her congressional reputation.
Boebert’s record as a conservative congresswoman includes the Pueblo Jobs Act, which she claims will create a thousand new jobs. She has also participated in numerous forums in the district and launched her first TV ad touting Trump’s endorsement.
However, balancing her public image and proving her seriousness as a legislator without compromising her identity as a MAGA warrior is a challenge. Boebert recently underwent emergency surgery for a blood clot in her leg and has been diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome. Her campaign announced that she is expected to make a full recovery.
Boebert’s political journey has been a rollercoaster ride. After narrowly defeating a Democrat in the last cycle, she chose to run in the more conservative-leaning Colorado’s 4th district, following former Rep. Ken Buck’s retirement announcement. Boebert claims her decision to relocate was personal, not political, although it undoubtedly improved her re-election chances.
However, Buck’s early resignation threw a spanner in her plans, setting up a special election on the same day as the Republican primary for the general election. Boebert decided not to run for the vacancy, a gamble that paid off when the vacancy committee selected a placeholder candidate, Greg Lopez, who is not running this fall.
Boebert still faces a packed primary in June. Nearly a dozen Republican candidates have entered the race, although not all may appear on the ballot. Sources close to Boebert believe a crowded field may benefit her by dividing the rest of the vote.
Despite the district being a reliable Republican seat, having Trump’s endorsement is not enough to secure a win, according to a GOP strategist. Boebert herself won her seat by defeating a Trump-endorsed Republican congressman in the primary.
Boebert has powerful allies, including Speaker Mike Johnson and the far-right House Freedom Caucus. The Freedom Caucus recently voted to remove Buck from their ranks, a move seen as a symbolic payback for his early resignation, which Boebert believes was an attempt to sabotage her re-election chances.
While Boebert has publicly feuded with other Republican lawmakers, she has found close allies within the Freedom Caucus. GOP lawmakers close to Boebert describe her as fun to be around, known for her self-deprecating humor. Whether this quality will resonate with voters remains to be seen.