Defiant Lauren Boebert to run ad in tight Colorado House race during NCAA final

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is launching a new advertisement during the NCAA men’s basketball championship game on Monday night.

It’s a defiant signal that she’s not backing down from what’s expected to be a competitive fight for the Republican nomination for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. Former President Trump won the deep red district by more than 10 points in 2020, and whoever wins the June 25 primary is the favorite to win the House seat in November.

The 30-second advertisement features Boebert and her youngest son, Roman. In the video, he asks her to “shoot some hoops,” but Boebert declines with, “Sorry Roman, I can’t right now, I’m deciding what to say in my new campaign commercial.”

LAUREN BOEBERT WON’T ‘FURTHER IMPERIL’ SLIM GOP MAJORITY BY RUNNING IN SPECIAL ELECTION FOR KEN BUCK’S SEAT

Rep. Lauren Boebert is out with a new television ad for her election in Colorado’s 4th district (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

“That’s easy, mom. Why don’t you just tell them about how you carry a gun and always fight for freedom?” her son said in the ad. “Did you tell them that you voted to cut spending, and increase American energy production? . . . You should probably also tell them that you passed bills to create Colorado jobs and to secure the border.”

In keeping with the theme of Monday night’s primetime game, the clip ends with the pair playing basketball together. 

Boebert, who currently represents the neighboring 3rd Congressional District, announced late last year that she would run for the much redder 4th district in 2024. It came a month after Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., announced that he would not seek re-election.

 GOP COLORADO REP KEN BUCK TO RESIGN FROM CONGRESS BY END OF NEXT WEEK

It’s the first ad Boebert is playing in the district since Buck left Congress on March 22. Her first ad since Buck announced his plan to leave early on March 12 focused on her endorsement from Trump.

She told Fox News Digital of the TV spot, “This was such a fun ad to create with my youngest son Roman. I’m sure everyone who sees it will agree that our message of securing the southern border, cutting federal spending and increasing American energy production is a slam dunk.”

Boebert is running in a crowded GOP primary to replace retired Rep. Ken Buck (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Buck’s decision not to finish his full term was a temporary blow to Boebert’s re-election bid – a special election to replace him would have forced her to either leave her current seat early as well or face a short-term incumbent in late June.

But the threat eased when the Republican candidate – former Parker, Colorado, Mayor Greg Lopez – told Colorado Newsline that he’ll be a “placeholder” and will not run in the primary. 

Monday’s new ad also appears to be Boebert’s way of keeping up a family-friendly conservative image even as she’s faced difficulties at home.

Her eldest son, Tyler Boebert, 18, was arrested in February in connection with a string of property thefts and vehicle trespassing incidents, the Rifle Police Department said at the time.

LAUREN BOEBERT SWITCHES DISTRICTS, ANNOUNCING RUN FOR COLORADO SEAT BEING VACATED BY KEN BUCK

Boebert is being endorsed by former President Trump. (Donald Trump/Truth Social)

“It breaks my heart to see my child struggling and, in this situation, especially when he has been provided multiple opportunities to get his life on track,” she told Fox News Digital at the time. “I will never give up on him, and I will continue to be there for him. As an adult and father, Tyler will take responsibility for his actions and should be held accountable for poor decisions, just like any other citizen.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Earlier this year, her ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, was charged by authorities in connection with two domestic incidents, one of which involved the congresswoman at a restaurant. He was arrested and released the same day.