Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert declared victory in her re-election race even though it remains too close to call, The Washington Post reports.
The first-term Republican was expected to coast to victory in the Republican-leaning district that was won handily by Trump but found herself trailing Democratic challenger Adam Frisch on election night. Boebert ultimately took a slim lead over Frisch but it has since been cut to just around 550 votes out of nearly 327,000 counted.
Under Colorado law, the 0.16% lead will trigger an automatic recount because it is within 0.5%.
The recount must be completed by December 13, 35 days after the election.
Boebert claims win:
The Associated Press and other networks are yet to call the race and are not expected to project a winner before the results of the recount.
But Boebert took to Twitter on Thursday to claim victory in the race.
“We won! I am so thankful for all of your support, and I am so proud to be your Representative!” she wrote.
Boebert also posted a video vowing that she is staying in Congress.
“Come January, you can be certain of two things,” she added in an a video with the Capitol building serving as a backdrop. “I will be sworn in for my second term as your congresswoman, and Republicans can finally turn Pelosi’s house back into the People’s House.”
Frisch responds:
Frisch, a former Aspen city councilman and local businessman, told the Associated Press that he may still win but acknowledged he may lose as well.
"We obviously can't be surprised if we lose. We're not that wacko," he told the AP.
He added that his unexpected surge of support shows that voters in the district are tired of Trump-style politics.
"I think 99% of the story is here," he said.
Frisch on Thursday filed paperwork to the Federal Election Commission to run again in 2024.
