Candidates for Colorado's 4th Congressional District debate - agree on very little

Colorado’s 4th Congressional District candidates Lauren Boebert and Eileen Laubacher faced off in a televised debate Monday night, clashing over the war with Iran, tariffs, and rising diesel prices.

Boebert, the Republican incumbent, defended President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran, saying the goal was to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral, criticized the decision, arguing the U.S. should have continued nuclear negotiations instead of going to war. She also pointed to the deaths of 150 girls in an Iranian school strike.

The candidates also disagreed over tariffs. Boebert called them a tool to secure better trade deals, while Laubacher said Americans bear much of the cost.

The debate comes as Democrats make an aggressive push to compete in the heavily Republican district, which covers much of eastern Colorado and parts of several Front Range counties. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added the district to its list of competitive races in August.

Both candidates criticized aspects of the Biden administration’s border policy and agreed that importing Argentine beef to lower meat prices was a mistake.

Laubacher also holds a substantial fundraising advantage, with nearly 15 times as much cash on hand as Boebert in reports through the end of June.

Boebert moved into the 4th District last year after previously representing Colorado’s 3rd District. Laubacher moved to Highlands Ranch in 2024.

The general election is November 3rd.