Boebert opts out of special election, calls Buck's retirement an attempt to 'rig' election

Rep. Lauren Boebert has already moved to Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, but she wants to keep representing the 3rd District for the rest of her term.

Boebert is one of a dozen Republicans running in the 4th District GOP primary to replace Rep. Ken Buck, who said in November he would not seek another term but then expedited the timeline of his departure on Tuesday when he announced he's retiring early.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is going to call a special election for someone to serve the rest of Buck’s term, per state statute. That special election is expected to be on June 25, which is the same day as the statewide primary elections.

More on this story: Ken Buck set to leave Congress early

Here’s why Boebert isn’t running in the special election

Boebert said in a campaign press release Wednesday morning that she is not going to partake in the special election and expressed confidence that she'll win the GOP primary in June.

She critiqued Buck’s early retirement as a “gift to the Uniparty” and said that “the establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I’m winning by 25 points.”

“Forcing an unnecessary special election on the same day as the primary election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months. The 4th District deserves better,” Boebert wrote.

Boebert also said that she didn’t want to “further imperil the already very slim House Republican majority” by leaving her 3rd District seat prematurely. She said that she would keep working to represent her current district and campaign in the 4th District.

“I am the only Trump-endorsed, America First candidate in this race and will win the 4th District’s primary election on June 25th and general election on November 5th,” Boebert said.

How will the special election to replace Ken Buck work?

Buck’s last day will be March 22.

Per Colorado law, the governor needs to call a special election between 85 and 100 days after a vacancy in Congress. The timing of Buck’s final day representing the 4th District and the timeline outlined in state statute overlap with the statewide primary election on June 25.

Voters in the 4th District can expect to vote in the planned primary elections — including for the 4th District candidates in both major parties — as well as a special election to decide who'll serve the rest of Buck’s term.

The major parties will each assemble committees of local leaders within the 4th District to select candidates for the special election contest.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics at the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Why Lauren Boebert won't run in the special election to replace Ken Buck