Rep. Lauren Boebert ‘Melted Down’ During Debate About Her Conduct & Veteran Issues, Opponent Says

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) has come under fire for her behavior after a recent debate with her challenger, Trisha Calvarese. 

Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, is running in the more conservative 4th district after she announced her candidacy there in December 2023. She won the subsequent GOP primary decisively. 

The heated exchange took place at the Ravenna Golf Club in Littleton, Colorado, where the two candidates clashed over key issues such as the economy, social security and veteran support. The debate became particularly intense when Calvarese questioned Boebert about her controversial vote against the PACT Act, legislation aimed at assisting veterans suffering from toxic exposures during military operations.

Calvarese challenged Boebert’s commitment to veterans: “I think if you’re going to be ‘America First,’ you can’t put the veterans last.” She emphasized her belief in prioritizing veterans’ health, which prompted applause from the audience. 

Boebert responded defensively, “Are you done?” before she responded that she wouldn’t vote “for something that we only had 24 hours to read that’s over 2,000 pages long.” She declared, “I have stood for our veterans since before I was elected, and I will continue to do so.”

This isn’t the first time Boebert has faced scrutiny over her treatment of veteran issues. In 2022, she heckled the president during his State of the Union address while he spoke about veterans affected by burn pits, such as his late son Beau, who died of cancer linked to such exposure. Following this, she was among the Republicans who voted against a bill that would have expanded healthcare access for sick veterans, although the legislation ultimately passed.

Calvarese has proposed a second televised debate at the Buell Theatre in Denver, the same venue where Boebert was ejected last September due to disruptive behavior in a performance of Beetlejuice. Boebert has yet to confirm her participation.

In a post-debate statement, Calvarese criticized Boebert’s performance and claimed she “melted down” on stage and failed to defend her record effectively, particularly regarding veterans and missed votes. Calvarese’s campaign emphasized that she held Boebert accountable for her actions and extreme positions.