Trisha Calvarese, a Colorado Democrat, has seen a significant boost in fundraising, having raised over $750,000 since winning her party’s primary. This comes as her Republican opponent, Lauren Boebert, is facing a fundraising crunch, with Calvarese’s campaign now claiming to have nearly quadrupled its war chest. Despite this positive development, Calvarese still faces an uphill battle to defeat Boebert in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, which historically leans in favor of Republicans.
The district has a Republican lean of 13 points as of 2022, according to the Cook Political Report. Internal polls from both campaigns suggest that the 2024 race could be closer than in previous elections. A poll paid for by the Calvarese campaign showed her leading Boebert by 9 points, but in a head-to-head matchup, Boebert held a significant lead. With more than 10% of voters undecided in both scenarios, the outcome remains uncertain.
Both Calvarese and Boebert are running for the first time in the 4th district. Calvarese has previously served in the federal government at the National Science Foundation but has not held public office before. Her campaign emphasizes bipartisanship, highlighting her work with a Trump nominee and her commitment to expanding access to reproductive and maternal care. Boebert, known for her conservative stance and as a gun-toting bar owner turned representative, remains a formidable opponent despite recent controversies.
Boebert narrowly won a second term in office in 2022, defeating Democrat Adam Frisch by a small margin. However, Frisch had amassed a significant campaign war chest in anticipation of a rematch for the 2024 election. Boebert’s campaign has faced scrutiny for its declining fundraising, with more than $500,000 being siphoned from PACs and other committees. The seat in the 4th district became open after Rep. Ken Buck retired, paving the way for a new representative to take office.
Despite facing challenges, Calvarese’s fundraising success and closer polling numbers suggest that the race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District will be closely contested. With Boebert’s controversial reputation and declining campaign war chest, there may be an opportunity for Calvarese to gain ground and potentially win the seat. The upcoming election will be crucial in determining the future representation of the district and could have broader implications for the political landscape in Colorado.
