Dem
51
GOP
49
The decision by Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) to leave Congress next week—instead of Jan. 3, 2025, as he originally planned—is a kick in the teeth to Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO). Boebert was already planning to run for Buck's seat in November, but now she has a new choice. Buck's decision triggered a special election, which Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) has scheduled for June 25, the same day as the Colorado congressional primaries.
This means that Boebert had to decide whether to be a candidate to finish Buck's term at the same time she is already running in the GOP June 25 primary for the 2-year term beginning Jan. 3, 2025.
Running in the special election isn't so easy, as there is no primary election. The 2022 state conventions pick the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively and they have to do it by April 1. She is not that well known in CO-04 because her current district, CO-03, is in Western Colorado and Buck's district, CO-04, is in Eastern Colorado. The districts are very different. CO-03 is in the Rocky Mountains; CO-04 is flat farmland, so the local issues are very different. Here is the map of the Colorado districts.
If Boebert announced for the special election and got the nomination, she would probably win because CO-04 is R+13. But then she would have to resign from her CO-03 seat, causing Mike Johnson to tear out his beautiful hair because his already thin margin would become one seat smaller. This would make her even less popular in her caucus than she already is.
Boebert has already made her decision, though. She will not run in June in the special election for the 6-month term. Johnson's barber issued a sigh of relief when he got the word.
As an aside, look at all those straight lines outside Colorado. Maybe Piet Mondrian was a consultant when the map was drawn. Another thing to note is that Colorado has borders with five states that greatly restrict abortions and is only 35 miles from a sixth one (Texas). Colorado law allows abortions up to 26 weeks of pregnancy in all cases and up to 34 weeks when there is a medical reason for one. If you are looking for a good business opportunity, setting up an abortion clinic in Colorado is something you might want to consider. (V)
Note: As a reward for reading the entire posting, we'll tell you what Art. 1, Sec. 9, Clause 8 is. It is the one that says the federal government can't issue titles of nobility, so the Republicans can't make Donald Trump King of the United States unless a constitutional amendment repeals that clause. Of course, that is a secular matter, which means he is still eligible to be promoted to Donald Christ. Or St. Donald of Mar-a-Lago. Or the Donny Lama.