April 05, 2024 02:27 PM UTC

No KO For Boebert At CO-04 Assembly

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• by: Colorado Pols

That’s the word from Ernest Luning of the Colorado Springs Gazette’s political blog reporting from the Colorado GOP’s state assembly in Pueblo, where carpetbagging cavalcade of crackpottery Rep. Lauren Boebert came out on top of the CO-04 assembly vote–but without a majority, and failing to eliminate the opponent generally considered to be Boebert’s foremost rival in the June 25th primary:

Off the ballot after this assembly vote is former state Sen. Ted “ScamPAC” Harvey of Highlands Ranch, who chose to rely solely on the assembly and didn’t garner the necessary 30% to qualify today. Two other candidates, state Rep. Richard Holtorf and former Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, kept their campaigns alive by keeping their assembly total above 10% and having submitted petitions to qualify for the ballot by that route.

Because Boebert’s path to victory depends on a crowded field of divided opposition leading to a win with a plurality of the June 25th primary vote, bumping off Ted Harvey may not benefit Boebert as much as her opponents despite her nominal first-place finish. As we’ve said consistently, further consolidation of the primary field will be necessary to prevent this strategy from succeeding. Numerous minor candidates in addition to Holtorf and Sonnenberg are awaiting a ruling from the Secretary of State on their petitions. But with Harvey out, it’s Harvey’s chief rival in the special election race Sonnenberg who stands to benefit most from today’s results.

Don’t get us wrong. Boebert very much has a viable path, and Sonnenberg had better get his campaign in gear if he wants to capitalize on Harvey’s exit. If Sonnenberg as the only candidate close to Boebert in terms of high-level support cannot consolidate the non-Boebert vote, one of the most improbable survival strategies in Colorado’s political history looks increasingly likely to succeed.