Candidate Q&A: Colorado’s 4th Congressional District

Coloradans will vote in primary elections June 30 to determine which candidates will represent their party in the general election in November.

The elections cover Colorado’s four statewide constitutional offices, one U.S. Senate seat, all eight of the state’s congressional districts, state legislative districts and other races. Colorado Newsline sent questionnaires to candidates in contested primary races and is publishing responses as part of its voter guide to help Coloradans make informed choices.

Colorado’s 4th Congressional District is represented by Lauren Boebert, a Windsor Republican who is running for reelection with no primary challenger. Retired Navy rear admiral and former National Security Council official Eileen Laubacher will be the sole Democrat on the June primary ballot, but clinical psychologist Jenna Preston is running as a write-in candidate. Whoever wins that race at the end of June will face Boebert in November.

Since launching her campaign last year, Laubacher has established a substantial fundraising advantage over her rivals, raising more money than every other candidate of either party in the race combined.

The 4th District, which includes the Eastern Plains and most of Douglas County, is Colorado’s most conservative district.

Ballots were scheduled to be mailed to all registered voters in Colorado starting June 8.

Voters can contact their county clerk if they have not received their ballot or check the online BallotTrax system. They can also visit the secretary of state’s website to make a plan to vote in person ahead of or on Election Day. Ballots need to be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on that day, so voters should mail their ballot at least eight days ahead of time or drop it off in person.

Trisha Calvarese, who was Boebert’s Democratic opponent in 2024, dropped out of the race this year after she brought a lawsuit that attempted but failed to challenge Laubacher’s eligibility to run as a Democrat.

Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, Democrats

Eileen Laubacher

Age: 57

City of residence: Highlands Ranch

Occupation: Retired Navy rear admiral

Jenna Preston (write-in)

Age: 54

City of residence: Parker

Occupation: Licensed clinical psychologist

What do residents in your district say is the biggest issue, and how will you work to address it?

LAUBACHER: I hear most about costs. The price of gas, groceries, healthcare, insurance — all skyrocketing. Families are struggling. Our representatives have a responsibility to act immediately and provide relief to working families. Lauren Boebert has repeatedly refused to do so. She has voted for tariffs, voted to cut healthcare funding, and acted as a roadblock to needed infrastructure funding. Boebert has the power to help working people. Instead, she acts as an obstacle to lowering costs. No one should have to worry about how they will put food on the table or access medicine. My only job in office will be to fight on behalf of the people and communities of Colorado — to ensure that no one is being left behind. 

PRESTON: Trust. Residents in our district have lost trust in those elected to represent them, to be honest, understand, show up, or follow through on promises. Our current congresswoman jeopardizes our healthcare and my Democratic opponent has not been honest about her voting record and not living in the district. Americans are losing trust in the news, social media, our justice system, and neighbors with different political views. Americans worry they will not have access to healthcare, social security, decisions about their own bodies, who they can marry, their ability to pay their bills, or see their children own a home someday. Residents see waste and corruption across the government while politicians on both sides get wealthy. They fear losing programs that support rural communities, veterans, women’s health, public education, small businesses, and healthcare. The arrival of AI has only deepened uncertainty and distrust. As a therapist for the past 30 years, I understand the importance of establishing and maintaining trust. I chose a career built on listening, understanding people’s struggles and what keeps them up at night, and helping create a path forward. I would do the same in Congress. 

What is your reaction to how Congress recently has stood by as President Donald Trump claimed powers that traditionally belonged to the legislative branch, such as those related to war, government spending and tariffs?

LAUBACHER: The Iran War is bad policy — one that Lauren Boebert cast the deciding vote to continue. We are spending tens of billions of dollars abroad and risking American lives just to raise gas prices and make it harder for people to get by. She has also repeatedly backed the tariffs that resulted in nothing but rising costs. This is not what Colorado’s 4th District wants. Our communities are being harmed by Boebert’s continued support of bad policy. All we are asking is for her to take responsibility and do her job, and she is clearly not up to the task.

PRESTON: President Donald Trump is one person, but he operates within a system that has condoned and perpetuated his abuse of power. When institutions fail to enforce accountability, power shifts away from the people and toward one individual. That is dangerous in any system, whether in families, schools, workplaces, or the government. Sometimes this happens out of fear or powerlessness, but in this case due to weakness, complacency, and corruption. Congress has become deeply divided and ineffective, failing to work together to protect the constitutional authority of the legislative branch outlined in Article I of the Constitution. Instead of serving as a co-equal branch of government, Congress has stood by while our president, narcissistic authoritarian tendencies makes unchecked decisions involving war, tariffs, and federal spending. This weakens democratic checks and balances and harms public trust in government. As a therapist, I have learned that progress only happens when people are willing to listen, collaborate, and work through conflict instead of deepening division. I never ask my patients, “Who did you vote for?” I ask, “How can I help?” We need leaders who can work across political differences, defend democratic institutions, and focus on improving the lives of everyday Americans.

Describe your approach to citizen engagement, such as whether you will appear at in-person town hall meetings and answer unscreened questions from residents?

LAUBACHER: The work does not end on the campaign trail. I will commit to holding regular town halls and meet people where they are. I know that people are tired of representatives who have been in D.C. for too many years and have forgotten their needs. It’s the reason we have politicians like Lauren Boebert making life more expensive and voting to hurt veterans, farmers, ranchers, and our communities. I promise to never stop meeting people face-to-face and answering their toughest questions.  

PRESTON: I chose a career as a therapist because it centers on in-person engagement. I have had the honor of sitting across from people, earning their trust, listening to their concerns, and working collaboratively to help create a path forward. In many ways, I have trained my whole life for this moment. I welcome difficult, unscreened questions because honest conversations are how trust is built. Our current congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, has not held a single in-person town hall in the 4th District. Instead, she has relied on scripted, audio-only town halls while continuing to support policies that would take healthcare away from many of the people she represents. I look forward to holding regular in-person town halls across our district, quarterly at a minimum and monthly when needed. I would also offer hybrid options so residents could participate by phone or video. In every setting, I would welcome unscreened questions from constituents. Serving this district means being present in the community. I will continue attending local potlucks, festivals, community meetings, and partnering with organizations like CSU Extension to stay connected to the people I serve. I want my local and Washington offices to feel welcoming and accessible to every constituent.

How will you respond to Trump administration actions, such as the withholding of federal disaster assistance, that appear to punish Colorado over political disagreements?

LAUBACHER: I’ll always push back on Washington every time out-of-touch politicians hurt our communities. I am not afraid to stand up to anyone who is hurting the people I represent, and I have no interest in appeasing partisan agendas or powerful interests. Lauren Boebert seems content to stand by as her constituents are punished for Washington squabbles. Service has been central to my life in the military and my life on the campaign trail — that will continue as an elected official. I am only concerned with the needs of the people I seek to represent, and I refuse to let politicians punish them over political games.

PRESTON: I have seen firsthand how federal assistance programs save lives and strengthen communities. I grew up in a flood zone in a small town in New Jersey, where my family depended on organizations like FEMA and the American Red Cross after devastating floods. I remember sorting through water-soaked possessions, while federal aid helped my single mother rebuild our home where she raised three daughters. As a therapist in community mental health clinics, I worked with adults, children, and families who relied on federally funded Medicaid services to access care. As a clinical psychologist, I have treated military members coping with trauma from responding to hurricanes, floods, and wildfires across the country. I also have a sister who depends on Affordable Care Act funding for healthcare coverage. Federal disaster assistance and public support programs are not political favors, they are lifelines for Americans in moments of crisis. Any administration that withholds aid to punish states over political disagreements is abandoning its responsibility to serve the American people. In Congress, I will fight to protect these essential programs and ensure that compassion, fairness, and public service, not political retaliation, guide federal decisions. Who better than a psychologist to guide us through crises.

What, if anything, must Congress do to ensure the security of elections?

LAUBACHER: We must always ensure that American elections are safe and secure, and Colorado has worked hard to do that. We also have real threats to our elections coming from overseas actors like China or Russia — Congress needs to take those threats seriously. This is not a partisan issue. Every American deserves to be heard. I fought to ensure that American Democracy remains strong, and to see representatives like Lauren Boebert challenge that value, and actively work to undermine it, is shameful. Congress can’t give credence to baseless challenges to our electoral system, because that makes things harder for every American regardless of political affiliation or partisanship.

PRESTON: Congress must protect the integrity, accessibility, and public trust of our elections and re-assuring Americans that our elections are secure and remain a model for the world. I have voted by mail since 2003, when I moved overseas with my husband during his Air Force service. For more than two decades, I have relied on mail voting without ever questioning the security of my ballot. At the same time, Congress must address the influence of money in politics starting with overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and reducing the power of super PACs and dark money in our democratic process. We need to inspire more participation in elections by making elections easier to understand and more accessible to voters, including reevaluating systems like caucus and assembly processes that involve only a small percentage of voters, like this 4th District race. Finally, we need to make it easier for everyday working Americans to run for office. Our democracy works best when elected leaders reflect the experiences and struggles of the people they serve — not only those with wealth, influence, or political connections. As a write-in candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 4th District, I would be honored to earn your vote.

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