Thomas L. Knapp is a director and senior news analyst at The William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism, where this was first published. He lives in north central Florida.
In late December 2023, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., packed her carpetbag and moved her 2024 reelection campaign. After supposedly representing her state’s 3rd District for two terms, she’s now seeking to supposedly represent the 4th.
Why? Well, it’s all about safety.
Not her constituents’ safety, her district’s safety, her state’s safety, her party’s safety or even her personal safety, but the safety of her career climbing the ladder of the American political class.
After eking out reelection by about 500 votes in 2022, she’s not sure she can do it again ... at least not where she is. The Democratic opponent she barely beat last time is back for Round 2, this time with a lot more money, a lot more name recognition and several more public embarrassments under Boebert’s belt to eat away at that tiny margin of victory.
Naturally, Boebert blames “dark money that is directed at destroying me personally,” rather than anything she’s done or failed to do, for her situation.
Meanwhile, fellow Republican Ken Buck has announced his retirement, after five terms, from a “safe GOP” seat that Donald Trump carried by 16 points in 2020.
Sure, there are Republicans who actually live in the 4th District and are interested in replacing Buck, but for Lauren Boebert, it’s all about Lauren Boebert.
While the particulars of her move are unusual, the general idea isn’t. It’s often the case that budding politicians will “shop” for, then move to, the districts or states they consider most likely to help launch successful careers.
Then, there’s former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman.
In 2006, Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in his quest for a third term supposedly representing Connecticut. In response, he launched a “third-party” campaign and ended up winning the general election with a plurality.
His choice of party name was telling. Most politicians would have gone with “Lieberman for Connecticut,” but in a refreshing fit of honesty, he chose “Connecticut for Lieberman,” thus tacitly confessing that, in his view, the state of Connecticut existed for the sole purpose of providing him with a Senate seat for as long as he darn well felt like sitting in one.
Which is pretty much what Boebert’s telling Coloradoans with her own House district move. And it just may work. Not for them, necessarily, but for her.
These people don’t work for you. They work for themselves. You’re just there to fund their paychecks and benefits. Don’t forget that.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
