In the wake of Rep. Lauren Boebert's (R-CO) vape-and-grope scandal at the “Beetlejuice” musical, the Democrat candidate coming for her congressional Colorado seat has raked in a “jaw-dropping” amount of campaign cash, according to new reports.
Adam Frisch, a former Aspen City Council member, has raised more than $7.7 million to run against Boebert in the race for Colorado’s 3rd district, according to Business Insider and Time. Frisch doesn’t expect the cash tap to turn off soon, he told Time.
“I’m confident we're going to report very strong fundraising numbers yet again,” Frisch reportedly said.
Boebert — a MAGA firebrand who struggled to win the historically conservative seat in 2020 — has seen a rocky term in office that Business Insider reports is reflected in her own campaign coffers.
Boebert raised just $2.4 million this cycle and only $854,000 between July and September, a quarter that saw Frisch bring in $3.4 million, according to the Business Insider report.
Time writer Mini Racker notes Boebert faced a serious setback in September when news leaked of Boebert’s ejection from a Denver theater after she vaped and caused a ruckus during the musical production.
“Boebert, for her part, has been trying to move past both her Beetlejuice scandal and her image as a controversial ultra-MAGA lawmaker,” write Racker. “For much of the past year, she has attempted to buckle down and show how she is working to address the practical concerns of her constituents.”
But the MAGA Republican also faces a challenger from her own party; Jeff Hurd, who has already pulled in $412,000 in about 4 months and earned key endorsements from high ranking Colorado Republicans, Business Insider reports.
Hurd’s spokesperson told Time that Boebert’s “poor personal conduct” and “profound underperformance” have put the race for her seat in the spotlight.
And that spotlight will only shine brighter as Colorado grapples with the legal battle over its presidential ballot and whether the U.S. Constitution blocks the inclusion of former President Donald Trump's name.
“Boebert will likely reenter the fray as a staunch MAGA loyalist,” writes Business Insider analyst Jake Swearingen. “And her opponent will have millions of dollars to capitalize on any mistakes she makes along the way.”
