OPINION | This article contains opinion. This site is licensed to publish this content.
Lauren Boebert narrowly defeated her Democratic opponent, businessman Adam Frisch, recovering Colorado’s third congressional seat by 546 votes, according to BBC.
Under Colorado law, the razor-thin margin required an automatic recount.
Frisch, who ran as a moderate, dropped out of the contest last month.
Boebert thanked her supporters and said she was “thrilled Republicans now hold the gavel in the people’s House” in a Twitter video uploaded after all of the state counties completed the recounts.
She promised “to stand up for our conservative principles, to be a strong voice for freedom, and to do everything I can to secure our God-given rights.”
Frisch, a former Aspen city councilor, had labored on the campaign trail to portray Boebert, a staunch conservative, as an extreme politician who was more concerned with her political reputation than with her citizens.
After the recount results were published late Monday, he made a statement declaring his campaign had “showed the nation that extremist politicians are not invincible.”
“We defied incredible odds with the closeness of this race,” he remarked.
Many anticipated Ms. Boebert to easily re-elect in the largely Republican area, but the tight victory surprised many. Before the elections on November 8, polling site FiveThirtyEight gave her a 97% chance of winning.
Boebert, who has a close relationship with former President Donald Trump, created a name for herself during her first time in office with her frequently aggressive and belligerent approach.
She was a staunch supporter of gun rights and once battled for the ability to carry a pistol into the Capitol. She has also called the outcome of the 2020 presidential election into doubt.
Republicans currently hold a 222-213 majority in the House. Democrats kept control of the Senate, with a 51-49 majority.
