Rep. Lauren Boebert’s (R-CO) opponent conceded the election on Friday despite the race’s razor-thin vote margin.
Boebert leads local businessman and former Democrat city councilor Adam Frisch, 50.8% to 49.92%, with over 99% of the votes counted, according to DecisionDeskHQ. Under Colorado law, the extremely close margin would likely trigger a recount. Frisch, however, announced his concession on Friday.
“The voters have spoken. And while we showed great progress, I remain down by a few hundred votes,” Frisch said. “I just got off the phone with Rep. Boebert. I called her to formally concede this election.”
Multiple outlets have yet to call the race, though Frisch is unconvinced he would attain victory after a recount.
Frisch said in his announcement, “The likelihood of this recount changing more than a handful of votes is very small. Very, very small. It would be disingenuous and unethical for us, or any other group … to continue to raise false hope and raise fundraising for a recount.”
The tight race comes as a shock to Republicans, as Boebert was expected to easily secure re-election. The night before the election, FiveThirtyEight gave Boebert “97 in 100” odds of winning.
Boebert won her first race in 2020 by a more comfortable margin, defeating her Democrat opponent 51.39% to 45.22%, even though Colorado voted to elect Joe Biden.
Boebert’s first term did not come without its controversies. During President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, she heckled Biden over his disastrous pullout from Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers. She also attended Biden’s speech in a dress that read “Drill Baby Drill,” in reference to the troublesome energy policies that have characterized the Biden administration.
The firebrand Republican has also not shied away from scuffles with other members of Congress. Last year, Boebert mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) “Tax the Rich” Met Gala dress by wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” dress. She also got into hot water last year when she described an encounter with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) as “not my first ‘Jihad Squad’ moment,” though she later apologized.
Boebert’s surprisingly close re-election follows the trend of the 2022 Midterm elections during which Republicans fell short of the expected red wave. Nonetheless, her victory will help Republicans secure a majority in the House of Representatives.