DENVER — The race for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District between Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Democrat Adam Frisch was likely headed for an automatic recount on Friday.
FOR THE LATEST IN THE RACE: Boebert declares victory, Frisch concedes in US House race in Colorado
As of Friday morning, Boebert was ahead of Frisch by 551 votes, according to the state Secretary of State's Office. The Associated Press estimated 99% of votes have been counted.
In Colorado, recounts are automatically initiated when the margin is less than 0.5% of the leader's vote total. In this race, that threshold currently sits at 818 votes.
Even though the race was still too close to call, Boebert declared victory on Thursday night on social media. In a video message, she thanked her campaign volunteers and acknowledged that there will be an automatic recount.
On Friday morning, Frisch said he had called Boebert to concede the race.
Boebert established herself as a national lightning rod in her first term, assailing inflation, crime, U.S. dependency on foreign oil and U.S. border policy under President Joe Biden’s watch. Her midterm election prospects in Colorado's mostly rural 3rd Congressional District seemed boosted by redistricting that made the district more Republican.
At a campaign party on election night in a restaurant bar in Grand Junction, Boebert got onto a stage and offered an extended prayer to her supporters. She concluded by declaring: “We will have this victory.”
"I am so optimistic," Boebert told her supporters. "It is absolutely trending in our favor."
Frisch, a former Aspen city councilman, spent the evening with supporters in Aspen. He said he was feeling good about the challenge he’s posed to Boebert, who was largely considered a lock for the seat until results started coming in Tuesday night.
"We’re excited where we are," Frisch said in an interview with 9NEWS sister station KRDO. "... "I’m not a chest-beating type of person and I’m certainly not going to over my skis, as we say. We’ll see how the rest of the night plays out, but I’d rather be in our position than Representative Boebert’s position right now."
Below, Boebert speaks to her supporters Tuesday night:
A first-term representative, Boebert is a divisive national figure for her conspiratorial rhetoric and provocative social media style. She’s a fervent supporter of gun rights and was the owner of a restaurant in Rifle, now closed, where the staff open-carried firearms.
Frisch is a former member of the Aspen City Council. He has downplayed his party affiliation in this largely rural and conservative-leaning district and instead has called himself a “conservative businessman.”
Below: A map showing U.S. House of Representative election results across the country and the balance of power:
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