Today is April 8, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert secured the top spot on the Republican primary ballot in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District by winning the delegate vote at Friday’s GOP district assembly in Pueblo.

“I said I don’t care if I have to go to that assembly on a stretcher!” Boebert said to cheers that echoed inside an arena at the State Fairgrounds.

Boebert underwent surgery Tuesday after doctors diagnosed her with a condition that disrupts blood flow and found a blood clot in her leg and. Boebert’s physician said she is expected to make a full recovery.

At the same time, one of Boebert’s chief primary rivals, former state Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch – the only Republican in the field who put all his chips on the assembly process – failed to receive the necessary delegate support to qualify for the ballot.

Last year’s legislative session saw an unprecedented number of new faces from all over Colorado, each legislator bringing distinctive backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the state Capitol, where they have pursued, broadly speaking, common goals but with divergent approaches.

And by the end of this term, several longtime lawmakers are departing the Colorado General Assembly.

Colorado Politics caught up with several of the state’s lawmakers currently in the middle of their very first session to get a behind-the-scenes look at what their life has been like. Colorado Politics also spoke with several outgoing legislators to see what it is like serving in the final session of office.

Whether the legislator is brand new or serving in their final session – all of them offered for politically minded citizens who may be interested in running for office at the local or state level or simply looking to become more involved in their community.

The Colorado Senate on Friday approved the state’s $40.6 billion budget for the next fiscal year after adopting nearly 20 amendments during the debate the day before.

The spending plan will now head back to a small group of lawmakers that will work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions.

The vote for House Bill 1430 was was 19-6, with the six “no” all coming from Republicans. Ten senators were excused on Friday.

All told, the Senate adopted 19 amendments during Thursday’s debate.

After nearly a two-month wait, House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, allowed the introduction of a House Republican resolution that seeks the impeachment of Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

Sponsored by Rep. Ryan Amagost of Berthoud and House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, HR 1006 focused on the Colorado Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision to remove Trump from Colorado’s presidential primary ballot.

It claimed that Griswold’s statements constituted malfeasance in office, dereliction of duty, unfitness for office, and abuse of the public trust and she should be impeached.

The resolution, which was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, with a schedule hearing next Tuesday, is expected to fail on a party-line vote.

The Colorado Republican Party on Saturday had law enforcement remove a reporter for the Colorado Sun from the GOP’s state assembly in Pueblo because the party’s chairman believes the outlet’s reporting has been “very unfair.”

A Pueblo County sheriff’s deputy escorted Sandra Fish, a long-time political and data reporter for the nonprofit news organization, from the Southwest Motors Events Center on the state fairgrounds, where thousands of Republican delegates from throughout the state convened to conduct party business.

Fish, who has reported on both major parties’ political assemblies for years, left the building when requested.