KOAA NBC News 5 Southern Colorado: Boebert: “We don’t want government to be our nanny, we just want our freedom”
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — A conservative restaurant owner from the Western Slope is challenging Scott Tipton for the Republican nomination in 3rd Congressional District. Lauren Boebert owns the Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado where the waitstaff open-carry handguns in hip-holsters.
The self-described 2nd Amendment advocate made an appearance on the Fox News Channel in September after publicly challenging former Democratic Presidential hopeful Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas over his gun policies during a campaign stop in Aurora.
Boebert believes a battle is underway for the heart and soul of the country and she wants to take up that fight in Washington.
“We just need active representation that is going to go forward and take on AOC (New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocassio Cortez) and the Squad and all the rest of the far left lunatics,” she said. “I am here to stand and fight for regular, patriot, God-loving Americans who are not looking for government handouts; we don’t want the government to be our nanny, we just want our freedoms.”
Tipton first won election to Congress in 2010 and has successfully held off primary challengers in 2014 and 2016. Boebert knows she’s at a disadvantage given her opponent’s time in office and connections with party leaders and donors.
“I will be outspent, and that’s okay,” she said. “We are already receiving funding from Americans all over the nation who are ready to fight this battle for us. And honestly, this is so much bigger than an incumbent.”
The last Democrat to be elected to the 3rd Congressional District was John Salazar who held the office from 2011 to 2014. Boebert believes her personal story can resonate even with Democratic voters from blue counties like Pueblo and Las Animas.
“I was raised in a Democrat home. So, I know how those policies affect families, I know that they absolutely destroy lives,” Boebert said. “I believe that I can reach a hand out to other women who were raised like me, other people who have been deceived by their local politicians, and I believes that I can pull them out of that.”
Primary elections will be held in Colorado on June 30, 2020.
