On Tuesday, Lauren Boebert faced off against her Democratic challenger, Trisha Calvarese, in their inaugural debate, which took place at the Ravenna Golf Club in Littleton. Following the event, Calvarese criticized Boebert for what she called a “meltdown” during the debate.
Calvarese’s remarks included accusations that Boebert had “disrespected veterans,” failed to support efforts to lower prescription drug costs, and missed crucial votes related to the national debt. Both candidates are vying for a seat in Colorado’s 4th congressional district this November. Boebert previously represented the 3rd district but switched to the more conservative 4th district, where she recently secured a strong GOP primary victory.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Calvarese stated, “Lauren Boebert melted down on the debate stage today,” highlighting her difficulty in defending her record on veterans and explaining her missed votes. Check it out here.
Lauren Boebert melted down on the debate stage today.
Whether it was floundering to try to defend her disgraceful record on Veterans or having no explanation as to why she missed crucial house votes, she was held accountable for her extremism.
📽️clips in🧵 pic.twitter.com/Pv4gY6OmUq
— Trisha Calvarese for Colorado (@trisha4colorado) September 3, 2024
Regarding veteran affairs, Calvarese criticized Boebert for being among the few Congress members to vote against the PACT Act, which expands benefits for military personnel exposed to harmful toxins. During the debate, Calvarese remarked, “To be America first, you can’t put veterans last,” while Boebert responded, “I’ve absolutely put them first,” citing her amendments that aimed to secure funding for veterans.
On healthcare, Calvarese challenged Boebert’s vote against allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs, pointing out that her father’s costly medication could have been more accessible. She stated, “You voted to keep the medication high and out of reach for millions of seniors.”
CHRIS KLEPONIS/AFP/GETTY
Boebert took aim at the Biden administration for its spending policies, arguing they contribute to inflation. She claimed, “The best thing lawmakers can do is stop spending your money,” criticizing the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act as ineffective.
Calvarese, however, countered by calling out Boebert for missing crucial votes on the national debt ceiling and accused her of dishonesty regarding her reasons. Notably, Boebert previously declared that she was skipping a vital vote as a “no-show protest,” although she later stated she was “unavoidably detained.”
Calvarese concluded her statement by reiterating her challenge for Boebert to engage in two televised debates open to the public. Earlier this year, Calvarese’s debate proposal went viral, especially following an incident where Boebert was removed from a performance of the musical Beetlejuice for her disruptive behavior.