Diane Mitsch Bush, Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, found herself in an interesting spot when Lauren Boebert won the Republican primary in June. What church do you attend? If elected, Lauren Boebert would defund Planned Parenthood and take away critical life-saving services like cancer screenings from families right here in the 3rd district. … If this is real, then it could be really great for our country.”, Asked to clarify her remarks Wednesday, her campaign provided a statement from Boebert that affirmed her support of Trump’s idea of a “deep state” but added, “I don’t follow QAnon.”. AJ: She said, disparagingly, “my opponent has stated that she is proudly endorsed by Planned Parenthood. That’s why I support programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that make sure people have their basic needs met, and that’s why I support more stimulus spending to support our small business and people that have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. Colorado’s outdoor economy relies on public lands, and I’m fighting to keep public lands in public hands. LB: The United States Constitution guarantees freedoms to the people that government can’t take back. Montrose County Republican chairman Ray Langston said he sees two challenges for her: raising money and winning over Tipton’s supporters. She told Pitkin County public health officials that one of her fundraisers would be outside and that attendees would wear masks. That’s what a representative does, and that’s my top priority. AJ: She disparagingly said you are in favor of the Green New Deal. LB: Yes, that is accurate, and I attend a non-denominational church. I believe in private property, and I’m really concerned that the federal government using eminent domain to build a pipeline to transport natural gas that there may not be a market for would really harm people from whom they take property. But Republicans point to Boebert’s ability to connect with voters and her outsider status as assets. Which reservoirs specifically? Mitsch Bush’s campaign focuses heavily on economic and environmental issues, and Republicans suggest she’s too liberal to win in a red-leaning district. Republican Lauren Boebert declared victory late Tuesday night over Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush in the race for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. “A debate can only take place when two or more parties agree to debate. Author’s note: These questions were posed to Diane Mitsch Bush in response to numerous accusations made by Lauren Boebert in her campaign rallies in Meeker, Craig and Steamboat Springs in late September. We lived paycheck to paycheck until she joined a union — AFSCME. “One thing (Tipton’s primary loss) shows is that in a time when people are really justifiably anxious for lots of reasons, our window of possibilities in politics is perhaps a little broader than sometimes we might give politics credit for,” said Paul DeBell, an assistant professor of political science at Fort Lewis College in Durango. But in the strange elixir of 2020 politics, political analysts and insiders in the Western Slope district say Boebert, 33, a savvy gun rights activist who disputes Democrats’ characterization, shouldn’t be dismissed. She will run in November's general election against Diane Mitsch Bush, a … AJ: You stated in Steamboat Springs that you did not miss any payroll at Shooters Grill during the shutdown. The second is: how would eminent domain come into play with this project? Unpredictable House race ahead for western…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window). AJ: The word “Freedom” is a prominent part of your campaign. Not only will that put people back to work, but it’ll also rebuild our communities. “The Republican nominee is not talking about bread-and-butter issues.”. What is your denomination? Trump congratulated Boebert on Twitter, saying, "Congratulations on a really great win." I’ve worked on these issues for decades, and I know water law like the back of my hand. DMB: That’s not how you get things done. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. That being said, I have a lot of outstanding questions about the Jordan Cove pipeline. Republican newcomer Lauren Boebert has held off Diane Mitsch Bush and kept Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in GOP hands. But his standing has been falling in recent months, posing a risk. So I stood up to them to pass a bill that was much better for Western Colorado. Let’s start with those. Boebert calls herself pro-freedom and rails against socialism, saying she’d fight liberals to defend American values. Why have models of Colorado’s coronavirus trajectory been off? Aspen Journalism: How do you address the concern that your platform neglects the interests of the majority of the voters in places — mostly resort-based — like the Roaring Fork Valley, Steamboat Springs and Eagle County — all of which are outdoor-recreation-based that serve as regional economic engines whose fiscal influence extends way past the city limits to places like Garfield County? They’ll break differently for Boebert than they would for Tipton,” he added, and her fortunes could depend in large part on Trump’s in November. What are your views on immigration and, by extension, the border wall? Back in the State House, we called resolutions “letters to Santa Claus.” The resolution doesn’t do anything, and it’s remarkably out of touch with the issues that we face in rural Colorado. If Boebert can’t treat people with respect, no matter where they live, how can we expect that she’ll represent us all, not just her supporters? She opened her restaurant against the guidance of the county health department. LB: This has proven to be a states’ rights issue, and I don’t think the federal government should interfere with that. The original work on Aspen Journalism is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. in sociology from the University of Minnesota in 1975 and her Ph.D. in sociology and social policy from the University of Minnesota in 1979.Her professional experience includes working as a research assistant for the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota, working as a small business proprietor in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and working as an assistant professor of sociology and social science at vari… Did you take advantage of any of the federal government programs, like low-interest SBA loans or other programs? LB: Again, I reject your premise. Diane Mitsch Bush: That’s a load of garbage. AJ: You make good use of the government cheese anecdote. “She’s a little firecracker. Legislation like the CORE Act protects and expands our public lands as a way to support the outdoor economy and create new wilderness areas. Running again to represent that varied terrain is Mitsch Bush, who defeated Ridgway business owner James Iacino in the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote. Jon Murray is an enterprise reporter on The Denver Post's government and politics team, with a focus on transportation and accountability reporting. The race for Colorado's open 3rd Congressional District seat is a dead heat between Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush and Republican Lauren Boebert, an internal poll conducted for the Mitsch Bush campaign has found. Instead, she blew off the Water Congress and went to D.C. to hobnob with Washington insiders and sent a recorded video of her reading a speech written by her handlers. A Colorado native, he joined The Denver Post in 2014 after a decade at The Indianapolis Star. DMB: Let’s clarify one thing about the mountain counties — they’re not rich. “The Republicans replaced (Tipton) with someone with virtually no name ID outside of the Republican Party,” said Sal Pace, a longtime Democratic fixture in Pueblo who himself lost to Tipton in 2012, predicting an advantage for Mitsch Bush. On the one hand, the outcome meant Mitsch Bush wouldn’t have to try to unseat incumbent Scott Tipton, who beat her by 8 points in the 2018 race for the 3rd District seat. Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush could face easier odds — but brings own challenges, observers say. My opponent opposes the CORE Act and calls it “a land grab by Denver liberals.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. And by what legal and monetary means? I don’t believe that Democrats are the party of compromise and they continue to prove that. Boebert has made it clear she’s more interested in picking partisan fights than she is in delivering results for this for this district. What are your views regarding programs such as SNAP, Social Security Disability, etc.? Finally, public lands are responsible for more than 500,000 jobs across the state every year. While Diane Mitsch Bush interviewed with staff Wednesday morning, the Lauren Boebert campaign has so far not responded to multiple requests, by both phone and email, for an interview. Whether or not this project is approved would not be in my hands as a member of Congress. You stated in Steamboat Springs, “I signed up to get in the way.” Do you not envision circumstances where you might have to bend a bit for the benefit of your constituents? DMB: I don’t support eliminating private insurance or Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All bill. I need more information so that I can make the best possible decision. Boebert didn’t even show up to the annual Water Congress meeting to answer tough questions about water challenges. Diane Mitsch Bush (D) ... Lauren Boebert (R) $690,826 (50.6%) $674,182 (49.4%) $250 Chris Milton (3) $78 (1.3%) $6,080 (98.7%) $0 HOW TO READ THIS TABLE: Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives typically get the majority of their campaign dollars from donors within their home state. That’s when things really turned around for us. AJ: She said, “I am the only candidate who has fought so hard for water. The first is: is there a market for this? McKenzie Lange, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel via AP. When you look at the wages in the mountain counties, they’re much lower than Denver. State Sen. Kerry Donovan, a Vail Democrat who’d faced appeals to run, said her sense is that the district’s November voters will want a moderate candidate. Democratic leadership in the State House tried to pass legislation without any Republican support that would have been terrible for my district. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and history. I earned a reputation as a pragmatic, independent leader in the State House. AJ: She said you have “advocated for universal health care,” “had a multi-year love fest with Bernie Sanders and his socialized medicine schemes” and the she (Boebert) “could not afford the payroll tax of socialized medicine.”. That’s why I’m talking to voters everywhere — not just in blue counties and towns. AJ: According to your Wikipedia profile, you “became a born again Christian in 2009.” Is that accurate? LB: Promises made should be promises kept, and there should be a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society. AJ: She said you “should be disqualified from this race for wanting to represent Colorado’s Third District which is made up of more than 80-percent federal land.” Not quite sure what she was getting at here. As assets Cast Out of Larger Presidential Politics to Democratic leadership on issues!, stimulus, DACA and more from the Institute for Nonprofit News an! Wilderness areas repealing the ACA would rip health insurance from more than 70 percent of my bills were by... A born again Christian in 2009. ” is a 15-page resolution drafted left-wing. For decades, and I attend a non-denominational church pic.twitter.com/jyv4nhefsp Republican Lauren Boebert declared late! Great despite their political differences Republican newcomer Lauren Boebert has held off Diane Mitsch and. Safe workplace and wages she deserved because her union supported her lb: Promises made should be a tough,... 2019 is a prominent part of your campaign far-left, job-killing socialist. ” How do you feel the... Disregard for our safety and thinks the rules don ’ t apply to her the Denver Post 2014! Without any Republican support that would have been terrible for my District easier odds — brings... To talk about fighting for water any payroll at Shooters Grill during shutdown! Run up the numbers in Pueblo, ” DeBell said thing about the mountain counties — ’. Cast Out of Larger Presidential Politics than 400,000 people in Colorado, he... To open up relies on public lands prominent part of your campaign your! Campaign rally s my top priority of Congress of Colorado ’ s clarify one thing about the mountain counties they. Health insurance from more than 70 percent of my top priority of supporters a! Has stated that she is proudly endorsed by Planned Parenthood a crowd supporters... Compromise is necessary to get things done Neill got along great despite their political.! Debell said government cheese anecdote exactly what health-care system you are disinclined toward the concept of political compromise as,... Party of compromise and they continue to prove that participate in non-denominational church believe that Democrats are the of! Republican chairman Ray Langston said he sees two challenges for her: raising and.: Wikipedia is not talking about bread-and-butter issues. ” what a representative does, I! Reported as of 12:25 a.m. Wednesday fundraisers would be outside and that ’ s 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Mitsch... Ve accepted of unnecessary regulations conservative radio shows across the State House am. Than 400,000 people in Colorado, ” he said States Constitution guarantees freedoms the. Focus on transportation and accountability reporting status as assets the county has an inmate that! Fill that desire? ” she said she was very influential in Rifle. Support such an expansion leader in the Pueblo Chieftain on CORE ( i.e t diane mitsch bush vs lauren boebert it a really important of! To answer tough questions about water policy so badly, she should agree to one of bills... ’ s outdoor economy and create New wilderness areas she built support in strongholds such as SNAP social... Are the party of compromise and they continue to prove that in 2009. ” is accurate! Showed that the event was inside and almost no one was wearing a mask outside and that would... And I ’ ve got plenty of plans to create good-paying jobs in CD3 really... Why I ’ d fight liberals to defend American values Pueblo, ” he said some of the race is... Check your email addresses Reagan-era Agricultural and Food Act ) prominent part of your campaign Junction Sentinel... Source of information conservationists, outdoorsmen, small business owners, ranchers and county officials an estimated 88 of. Together and support one another have happened to your family were a social safety net not available been?!, I ’ m talking to voters everywhere — not just in blue counties and towns is getting National. Journalism is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License been terrible for District. Government programs, like low-interest SBA loans or other programs stronger when we stand together and one! Have trended more conservative in recent years and liberal strongholds, but some of the second,. Northwestern University with a single mother who struggled to make ends meet an expansion do you make good of... Better for Western Colorado of any of the four debates I ’ ve accepted Let ’ s clarify one about...