Colorado Republicans have elected the former mayor of Parker to serve out the remainder of former Congressman Ken Buck's (R-CO) term, providing Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) with a positive development as she seeks to claim her former colleague's seat.

The Washington Examiner reports that a panel of local Republicans selected Mayor Greg Lopez to serve in Buck's stead until January 2025, all the more notable because Lopez has indicated he does not plan to run against Boebert for a full term. The Republican congresswoman is already facing a heated Republican primary against several lesser-known rivals.

The selection of Lopez on Thursday night now ensures that Rep. Boebert will be able to participate in the June 25th special election without running against an incumbent, making her the odds-on favorite to secure the GOP nomination. The 4th Congressional District is a solidly Republican stronghold comprised of rural farmers and residents; among them, likely voters prefer Boebert with 32% of the vote according to a February poll.

Lopez, who twice ran unsuccessfully for governor, said in a statement he would “do the best job that I can and represent this state to the best of my ability.”

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Shortly after Buck announced his immediate resignation, Boebert called on the panel of Republican delegates to select a placeholder. She added that Buck's decision amounted to a “swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I’m winning by 25 points.”

She praised Lopez's choice in a statement on Friday.

“Congratulations to Greg Lopez, who will be a strong Congressman finishing out the remainder of Ken BUCKLE’S term! Greg stepped up with a servant heart and a leadership mindset with accountability being his driving force,” Boebert wrote.

“I will continue to aggressively campaign throughout the District to earn even more support from voters and look forward to winning the primary on June 25th, the general on November 5th, and honorably representing the 4th District in the 119th Congress.”

After winning reelection by the narrowest of margins in 2022, Rep. Boebert, facing the prospect of a popular and well-funded Democratic opponent, opted to move her home into the 4th congressional district and seek election across an almost entirely new electorate. She has contended with accusations of carpetbagging and continues working through an acrimonious divorce made worse by a controversy surrounding her nighttime misbehaviors at a movie theater while out on a date.