Boebert and Laubacher Clash on Tax, Medicaid, and Water Issues in Colorado's 4th District Race

Rep. Lauren Boebert and Eileen Laubacher face off in the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, a region stretching from the eastern plains to Douglas County and Loveland. The two candidates hold sharply different views on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, rural healthcare, and the nation's energy future. Voters will decide who represents this district, which Boebert has held since 2024 after moving from the 3rd District.

The contest features a three-way ballot that also includes Douglas Mageris, a Libertarian. Boebert, 39, resides in Windsor and previously ran a restaurant. Laubacher, 58, lives in Highlands Ranch and retired from the U.S. Navy in 2024 with the rank of rear admiral after 34 years of service as an intelligence officer.

The candidates diverge on tax policy under the recent legislation. Boebert argues that all tax cuts in the bill, including those for seniors and tipped workers, should become permanent. She also seeks to lower capital gains taxes for senior homeowners and payroll taxes for businesses that employ tipped staff. Laubacher supports making the tip and overtime tax exclusions permanent but wants to eliminate a $70 billion tax break for data center companies. She proposes increasing the child tax credit beyond the $2,200 amount included in the bill.

On Medicaid work requirements, Laubacher supports the concept but criticizes the paperwork burden, arguing it causes some people to lose benefits while they navigate the rules. She believes states should oversee compliance. Boebert backs the requirements, stating that able-bodied adults should not receive benefits intended for more vulnerable populations. She notes that exceptions exist for single mothers and people with disabilities, and that volunteer work counts toward the requirement.

The race also centers on rural hospitals and water infrastructure. Laubacher calls the Rural Health Care Transformation Program flawed and warns that some hospital leaders fear no rural hospitals will remain in the eastern plains within five years. Colorado received $200 million in the first year of the program. Boebert disagrees that hospitals need more funding, blaming Democratic legislators for previous Medicaid cuts. She describes the $50 billion program as a huge benefit for rural facilities.

Both candidates support the Arkansas Valley Conduit project to supply water to southeastern Colorado. Boebert is working to pass legislation to fund the project after President Donald Trump vetoed it last year. The House approved the measure in September, and it is now pending in the Senate, where Sen. Michael Bennet is pushing for its passage. Boebert stated that the administration hopes it becomes law.

Energy and climate policy mark another point of contention. Laubacher says the U.S. should not abandon fossil fuels yet because battery storage technology is not advanced enough to support a full shift to renewables. She proposes modernizing the electric grid and improving efficiency. Boebert argues the market should determine energy sources and called electric vehicles a great failure. She advocates for using hydropower, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy to keep costs accessible.

The candidates also differ on immigration and foreign aid. Laubacher wants a path to permanent residency for working individuals who pay taxes, including those who previously had protected status, while excluding those convicted of violent crimes. Boebert states that if a person is in the country illegally, they must leave. On military aid, Laubacher says the U.S. should stop financing Israel's weapons but can sell them case by case. Boebert argues for a temporary pause in aid to all countries to put the U.S. first.