Lauren Boebert was trailing Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District on Wednesday, November 4, as election officials continued counting ballots from the previous day’s U.S. midterm election.
The race had not been called by midday Eastern time, and the unofficial results remained subject to additional county reporting, canvassing and certification.
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Lauren Boebert: Laubacher holds an unofficial lead
Colorado election figures reported early Wednesday showed Laubacher with 168,729 votes, or 49.2 per cent, compared with 163,835 votes, or 47.7 per cent, for Boebert.
Libertarian candidate Douglas Mangeris had 10,717 votes, or 3.1 per cent, in the same tally.
That left Laubacher ahead by 4,894 votes, although the margin could change as more ballots are processed.
The reported count included 343,281 votes and represented only part of the district’s total reporting process.
Earlier election-night figures showed 10 of the district’s 21 counties reporting, underscoring why no winner had been declared.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen Laubacher | Democratic | 168,729 | 49.2% |
| Lauren Boebert | Republican | 163,835 | 47.7% |
| Douglas Mangeris | Libertarian | 10,717 | 3.1% |
Why the race remains unsettled
Colorado election results are unofficial until counties complete their canvasses and submit final vote totals for certification.
Ballots can continue to be added after election night, including eligible mail ballots received under state rules, military and overseas ballots, and ballots connected to signature-curing procedures.
The state’s 2026 general-election calendar requires counties to complete their canvasses and submit official abstracts of votes cast by November 25, 2026.
The current margin is wider than the threshold that would automatically trigger a recount under Colorado law, but that calculation applies to the final certified totals rather than an early unofficial count.
A difficult re-election fight for Boebert
Boebert, a Republican incumbent, won the district in 2024 with 53.64 per cent of the vote, according to Colorado’s certified results from that election.
She moved from Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District to the 4th District before the 2024 election and secured the Republican nomination there.
The 4th District includes much of Colorado’s Eastern Plains and portions of the Front Range, including Douglas County and areas around the southern Denver suburbs.
The district has traditionally favoured Republican candidates, making the early Democratic lead a notable development even though the outcome remains unresolved.
Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral, entered the race as the Democratic nominee after winning her party’s uncontested primary.
Boebert was also unopposed for the Republican nomination.
What happens next
County election offices will continue reporting updated totals as outstanding ballots are reviewed and counted.
Once all counties finish their canvasses, Colorado officials will prepare the certified statewide results.
The winner of the congressional race will then be formally determined through that process.
Until the race is called or certified, neither candidate should be described as the winner.
For now, the central question is whether Boebert can close the gap as the remaining vote is reported or whether Laubacher can preserve her lead and produce one of the most significant House upsets in Colorado’s 2026 election.
Colorado District 4 results at a glance
- Election date: November 3, 2026
- Race: U.S. House, Colorado’s 4th Congressional District
- Leader in the reported unofficial count: Eileen Laubacher
- Margin: 4,894 votes in the cited update
- Status: Not called and not certified
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Colorado House race involving Lauren Boebert?
Democrat Eileen Laubacher was leading Republican incumbent Lauren Boebert in the reported unofficial count, but the race had not been called.
How many votes separated Eileen Laubacher and Lauren Boebert?
The cited update showed Laubacher ahead by 4,894 votes.
Why has Colorado not declared a winner yet?
More ballots still need to be counted, and county results must be canvassed and certified before the outcome becomes official.
When was the Colorado election held?
Colorado’s 2026 general election was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Could the Colorado District 4 race go to a recount?
A recount is possible under Colorado law if the final margin falls within the statutory threshold, but the reported unofficial margin was wider than that threshold at the time of the update.
Fact-Checked: Key vote totals, candidate information, election timing and certification details were checked against Colorado election information and current unofficial results reporting.
Disclaimer: Vote totals can change until Colorado counties complete their canvasses and the state certifies the final results.