More than a dozen Republicans seeking the nomination in two of Colorado’s most competitive congressional primaries faced off for the first time Thursday night in Fort Lupton.

View the CD4 livestream here: 

Editor’s note: If you’re having audio issues, you might need to adjust your browser settings or view the debate here:

View the CD 8 livestream here: 

Editor’s note: If you’re having audio issues, you might need to adjust your browser settings or view the debate here:

The evening of debates was expected to feature every GOP candidate running to replace retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in the 4th Congressional District and the candidates hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District.

Sponsored by the Republican Women of Weld and the Lincoln Club of Colorado, the sold-out debates will be held at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center.

The heavily Republican 4th CD covers Colorado’s Eastern Plains, anchored by suburban Douglas County. The battleground 8th CD, the state’s newest district, was created last cycle following the 2020 census. Considered a toss-up seat, the evenly divided district stretches north of Denver from suburbs in Adams County into parts of Larimer and Weld counties.

The 4th CD primary includes U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who announced earlier this month that she planned to move across the state to the new district rather than seek a third term in the more competitive Western Slope-based 3rd Congressional District the Silt Republican represents.

One of her rivals is former state House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, a Wellington Republican, who resigned his legislative leadership position this week in response to revelations about his 2022 arrest on drunken driving and gun charges.

Others in the 10-candidate field are state Rep. Richard Holtorf, Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg, former state Sen. Ted Harvey, radio host Deborah Flora, Weld County Council member Trent Leisy, former congressional nominee Peter Yu, activist Justin Schreiber and former top congressional aide Chris Phelen.

Candidates running in the 8th CD are Weld County Commissioner Scott James, state Rep. Gabe Evans and health insurance agent Joe Andujo.

The debates’ moderators are talk radio host and former district attorney George Brauchler, political strategist and 9News commentator Kelly Maher, Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning and Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul.