Perhaps now she will rise to the dignity of the office. This week, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert learned that the candidate who nearly beat her in November, Adam Frisch, will be running again in 2024. Given his stronger-than-expected performance in 2022, he is likely to get support from major donors and Democratic fundraising organizations. With more experience, money, and name recognition, the former Aspen city councilman has an even better shot at turning the GOP district blue.
In 2022, Frisch lost by only 546 votes in a district where Republicans enjoy an 11-point advantage in voter registration. The election was so close I almost won a bet with Rick Enstrom whose delicious chocolate family business is in the 3rd Congressional District. There were moments during the election night nail-biter that it appeared he would be buying me a burrito.
That’s because Republicans and right-leaning unaffiliated voters voted for Frisch or left that part of the ballot blank, not because of the way Boebert votes but because of the way she acts when not voting.
Some hoped that Boebert would moderate her rhetoric after the close election. But has she? Thus far she has refrained from calling fellow representatives terrorists. Boebert did not sit with her erstwhile bestie Marjorie Taylor Greene during the recent State of the Union or heckle the president like she did the year before. Unlike Greene, however, Boebert took center stage in the weeklong Speaker vote melodrama.
Recently, she waxed eschatological by suggesting Satan will beg Jesus to return because Christians are out in such “a great force” not “hiding in caves” due to “a government lockdown.” This was not her first burst of creative theology; last year she implied that Jesus could have avoided crucifixion if he had simply had an AR-15.
On Twitter, Boebert is still quite the flibbertigibbet. What else is she supposed to do during those tedious congressional hearings, listen? One of her Twitter accounts proudly displays her support for the disgraced former president, an association that, along with her other antics, nearly cost her the election.
On the question of whether Boebert would moderate post-election, it’s looking like not so much. So the Frisch announcement is good news. Moderates within the GOP have time to establish a viable alternative to Boebert in the Republican primary. Potential contenders need to begin raising money and gaining visibility within the district.
State legislator Don Coram did a laudable job challenging Boebert in the 2022 primary. A serious person, Coram beat her squarely in debates but lagged in fundraising and visibility. By starting early, a challenger would overcome these challenges and have a good chance at winning the primary.
Colorado is a blue state and will be for the foreseeable future. The GOP needs to hold on to the remaining Republican congressional districts while preparing for the occasional opportunity to win a statewide election. It’s not impossible; deep blue states like Maryland and Massachusetts elect GOP governors from time to time.
The Colorado GOP can defend the seats they have and prepare to seize new opportunities by developing a strong bench and infrastructure. The party also must resuscitate its image by elevating leaders untainted by Trump, election conspiracy theories, or other asininity. Unfortunately, thus far contenders to replace Kristi Burton Brown for the GOP chair check those boxes. The GOP needs someone like George Brauchler or Lang Sias for the thankless, ulcer-inducing job of chair.
The GOP must also think about the future of the 3rd Congressional District. Frisch’s announcement should be a wakeup call.
Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer
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