Western Slope race flips, Boebert now in lead

Northern Colorado District 8 race tightening

An extremely tight race on the Western Slope, which earlier appeared to be a Democratic gain, may now be a Republican hold.

The U.S. House District 3 race pitting Republican Lauren Boebert and Democrat challenger Adam Frisch leaned toward Frisch on Election Night and into the evening Wednesday, but Thursday the count flipped in favor of Boebert.

It led to Boebert tweeting one word Thursday: “Winning!”

The race continues to fall within the trigger point for a required recount. Boebert, who is seeking her second term in the U.S. House, held a 433 vote advantage at midday Thursday. Frisch’s lead had dissipated to 64 votes Wednesday evening and then the race flipped Thursday, when Boebert held 50.07% of the vote compared to 49.93% held by Frisch.

In U.S. House District 8, Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer had conceded Wednesday in the other federal race which was too close to call on Election Night.

It is appearing to have possibly been premature. At midday Thursday, Democrat Yadira Caraveo’s lead had shrunk to 134 votes in the race which is split by 0.06%. It is a margin which would result in an automatic recount.

“We are watching the final results in District 8 very closely and believe every vote must be counted,” Colorado Republican Party Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown said. “Barbara Kirkmeyer would be the congresswoman District 8 needs.”

Caraveo had tweeted Wednesday that her campaign was confident when all votes were counted in the “neck and neck race” she will have won election.

While it appeared early Wednesday voters may have given Democrats a 6-2 advantage in the Colorado U.S. House delegation, Republican Ken Buck had indicated to The Fort Morgan Times he thought final returns might result in a hold and possibly a win, either to create a 5-3 Democratic advantage or a 4-4 split. Should Republicans win both seats, it would give the party a gain in the House from a current 4-3 disadvantage.