U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s middling finish in a straw poll Thursday night drew gasps from the crowd that had just witnessed the Colorado lawmaker face off against eight other Republicans in a congressional primary debate at a rec center in Fort Lupton.

The headline-grabbing incumbent’s performance in the decidedly non-scientific survey – Boebert landed in fifth place with just over 10% of the vote, behind three veteran state lawmakers and a former talk radio host who ran last cycle for the U.S. Senate – surprised some in the room but drew shrugs from others, who pointed out that the hall was filled with local Republicans loyal to other candidates who shared the debate stage.

The 90-minute debate, which drew national attention, took place less than a month after Boebert, the state’s most prominent elected Republican, joined the already crowded GOP primary in the sprawling 4th Congressional District, which covers Colorado’s Eastern Plains, anchored by suburban Douglas County.

She announced in late December that would seek another term in Congress from the solidly Republican seat after moving from the more competitive Western Slope-based district she’s represented since 2021. Boebert said during the debate that she recently moved to Windsor in Weld County.

Out of 117 votes cast, Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg, a former longtime state state lawmaker, led the straw poll with 22 votes, followed by former House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, who received 20 votes, Douglas County filmmaker Deborah Flora at 18 votes and House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, with 17 votes.

Boebert got 12 votes, narrowly edging out former congressional nominee Peter Yu’s 11 votes, with three more candidates – former state Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, Weld County Council member Trent Leisy and former congressional staffer Chris Phelen – trailing in single digits. A 10th candidate, activist Justin Schreiber, didn’t attend the debate.

Debate organizer Tammy Klein, vice president of event sponsors Republican Women of Weld, told Colorado Politics she was dismayed that only roughly two-thirds of the eligible attendees cast ballots in the straw poll.

“It’s very concerning that even when you place a ballot in their hand, they still walk away and leave it on the table,” she said on Friday. “That relates to why voter turnout is so low in Colorado – so many leave their ballots on their counter.”

She noted that the event sold out less than two days after tickets were made available, with many going to local elected officials, party stalwarts and club members.

“In all honesty, I don’t think the candidates had time to rally all their supporters to buy tickets, especially with as many candidates as there were,” she said with a chuckle.

The evening also featured a 45-minute debate between the three Republicans running for the nomination in the 8th Congressional District, a toss-up seat represented by first-term U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Thornton Democrat.

That district covers parts of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties, stretching north of the Denver metro area.

The results in that race’s straw poll were more decisive, with state Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton, receiving 69 of 115 votes cast, for 60% of the vote. He led primary rivals Scott James, a Weld County commissioner, who got 33 votes, and first-time candidate Joe Andujo, a Fort Collins insurance agent, who got 13 votes.

Some candidates and their campaigns bought blocs of tickets, but Klein said it didn’t appear that any campaign packed the event – unlike at previous debates, where well-heeled campaigns filled seats with busloads of supporters.

“I do think there were very engaged people who bought tickets,” she said, noting that it appeared some in the audience traveled far to attend. “It shows the dedication of the people wanting to get engaged.”