Top Trump Ally Loses Election After Long Count

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters in Congress, is projected to lose her Colorado House seat to Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral.

The closely contested race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District remained unresolved for several days after the 2026 midterm elections. By Monday afternoon, with 98 percent of the ballots counted, Laubacher held a narrow lead over Boebert, receiving 48.8 percent of the vote compared with Boebert’s 47.9 percent.

The projected defeat adds another high-profile Republican loss to an election cycle that has reshaped control of Washington. Democrats secured majorities in both the House and Senate, with victories in several states that have traditionally favored Republicans. Some races were still awaiting final results, leaving Boebert’s contest among the closely watched outstanding outcomes.

Laubacher brings a lengthy military and national security background to her new role. She spent 34 years in the U.S. Navy, eventually serving as a two-star rear admiral. Her assignments included working as the senior U.S. defense official and defense attaché in India. She later joined the Biden administration, where she served as the National Security Council’s senior director for South Asia.

Boebert took a very different path into public life. Before running for Congress, she owned Shooters Grill, a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, known for allowing employees to openly carry firearms while working.

She entered the political arena in 2020, winning a House seat in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Her outspoken support for Trump quickly made her a recognizable figure among congressional Republicans and a frequent presence in national political coverage.

Boebert also became known for several confrontational moments, including heckling President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address. She later became a prominent supporter of Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign.

Her political career continued in 2024 after she moved to Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, a district considered more favorable to Republicans. She won a third House term by defeating Democrat Trisha Calvarese, taking 53.6 percent of the vote to Calvarese’s 42.4 percent.

This time, however, the district delivered a much closer result, with Laubacher ultimately moving ahead in the final count.

Boebert’s projected loss marks a significant change for a Republican who had become closely associated with Trump and his political movement. It also underscores the scale of the Democratic gains during the 2026 midterms.