It’s not clear yet whether U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert will be the Republican nominee in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District — but her would-be Democratic opponents are sure acting like she already is.
And in a virtual candidate forum Wednesday hosted by the League of Women Voters of Colorado, each of the three Democrats running in the 4th District cast themselves as the most electable over Boebert in the reliably Republican district.
John Padora, an addiction recovery advocate, and Trisha Calvarese, a former congressional staffer, both highlighted their time living in rural areas.
“I lived in rural America — Pennsyl-tucky as we called it, Southwest Pennsylvania,” said Calvarese, who is also running in the June 25 special election to serve out the term of former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned in March. “I think regardless of where people live, they care and they worry about taking care of their families, putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their (head).”
Padora pointed to his experience working in manufacturing. “I’m the only candidate here who’s continually worked blue collar jobs, and knows the struggles that that community faces,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ike McCorkle, a former Marine, repeatedly touted his military service as a selling point for voters in November.
“This (primary election) will determine whether or not we win the fight against these MAGA extremists who threaten our democracy, that so many of my brothers and sisters and Marines died defending,” McCorkle said.
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WHERE THEY DISAGREE ON THE ISSUES
Throughout the forum, the Democrats each professed support for progressive policies and mostly agreed on the issues.
Here are some key areas where they disagreed:
DO THE MATH
1,719
The number of political fundraising emails mentioning U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert collected by a national database that dates back to 2020.
It’s no secret that Democratic candidates and political action committees like to use the distaste liberal voters have for the Republican congresswoman to raise money. But just how often do they do it?
We searched a database of campaign fundraising emails created by Derek Willis of Decision Desk HQ. Most of the emails were sent by candidates, some by political action committees.
And while the database likely hasn’t captured every political fundraising email sent in the past three and a half years — there’s only one from Democrat Ike McCorkle’s campaign in the 4th Congressional District — it still revealed nearly 2,000 that invoked Boebert.
Of the emails mentioning Boebert, 85% came from Democratic candidates or committees. Only 13% came from Republican candidates and committees; about half of those appeared to be raising money for Boebert.
Last year was the busiest single year since 2020 for Boebert mentions in political fundraising emails, at 736, compared with 296 thus far this year.
Here’s a sampling of the emails mentioning Boebert:
AXIOS DENVER: Lauren Boebert looks to move beyond her firebrand image to win in new district
THE DENVER POST: Rep. Lauren Boebert fights off attacks at Republican congressional debate less than a month before primary
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THE POLITICAL TICKER
ELECTION 2024
Donald Trump’s campaign warned Republican candidates not to fundraise off of his felony conviction Thursday. A Politico story used Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams’ fundraising appeals as a prime example of what Trump’s aides have told candidates not to do. “Any Republican elected official, candidate or party committee siphoning money from President Trump’s donors are no better than Judge Merchan’s daughter,” Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita told Politico. “We’re keeping a list, we’ll be checking it twice and we aren’t in the spirit of Christmas.”
3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, former U.S. Attorney Troy Eid and former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez — all prominent Colorado Republicans — are hosting a fundraiser in Denver on June 11 for Grand Junction attorney Jeff Hurd, who is running to represent the 3rd Congressional District. Tickets start at $250.
ENDORSEMENTS
The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Candidate Fund endorsed Jeff Crank in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary this week over Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams. Former U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who is vice chair of the group, said in a written statement that “Jeff Crank has spent his career speaking up for the voiceless and we’re proud to endorse him.” Meanwhile, the Colorado GOP endorsed Saundra Larsen to represent the 4th Congressional District on the state Board of Education. She faces former Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown in the Republican primary.
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THIS WEEK’S PODCAST: Two state senators reflect on their time at the Colorado Capitol
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Consultant Jon Hotaling has a history in the 5th Congressional District — and with Jeff Crank
This year won’t be the first time conservative commentator Jeff Crank has faced off against Colorado Springs political consultant Jon Hotaling.
Hotaling’s Liberty Service Corp. is working with Crank’s opponent, Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams, in the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District.
In a debate between Crank and Williams earlier this month, Crank — from the debate stage — called out Hotaling and the two briefly sparred. Crank claimed Hotaling walked out with the Colorado delegation to the 2016 Republican National Convention to protest Donald Trump’s nomination. Hotaling shouted “Liar!”
In 2006, Hotaling worked for Republican Doug Lamborn’s first 5th District campaign. Lamborn won a six-way Republican primary that year by just under 900 votes, with Crank finishing second.
During that campaign, the Colorado Christian Coalition sent mailers saying Crank supported the “radical homosexual lobby.” At the time, Jon Hotaling’s brother Mark Hotaling was executive director of the coalition.
ABOUT THAT WALKOUT
News reports at the time said all of Colorado’s RNC delegates walked out to protest Trump’s nomination in 2016. (Hotaling was an alternate delegate.)
All were supporting Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for the nomination.
Among the Republican delegates in 2016 from Colorado are several who, eight years later, are big fans of the former president as he campaigns for a third time:
STORY: Where Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District stand on big issues
STORY: Where Democratic candidates in the 5th Congressional District stand on big issues
A HISTORY OF HOTALING’S WORK
Liberty Service Corp. was paid $474,000 by federal committees from 2003 through March of this year, and $625,000 by state-level campaigns from 2000 through April of this year.
Among the Republican candidates Hotaling’s firm has worked for:
THE BIGGER PICTURE
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Corrections & Clarifications
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