{"id":40376,"date":"2022-05-27T01:56:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T07:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/gloves-come-off-in-first-debate-between-congressional-candidates-don-coram-and-lauren-boebert\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:55:17","slug":"gloves-come-off-in-first-debate-between-congressional-candidates-don-coram-and-lauren-boebert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/gloves-come-off-in-first-debate-between-congressional-candidates-don-coram-and-lauren-boebert\/","title":{"rendered":"Gloves come off in first debate between congressional candidates Don Coram and Lauren Boebert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"State
State Sen. Don Coram answers a question while debating U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert on Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio for the first of two debates ahead of next month\u2019s Republican primary. Coram touted his track record in the Colorado Legislature as one of the reasons voters should cast their ballot for him. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

IGNACIO \u2013 Sparks flew during Thursday\u2019s debate between state Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert as they jousted ahead of next month\u2019s Republican primary.<\/p>\n

The two met Thursday morning at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio in a crowded event center filled with about 150 people split down the middle, literally; Coram supporters on left and Boebert supporters on the right.<\/p>\n

It was the first of two debates scheduled for the candidates.<\/p>\n

Moderated by Dave Woodruff, general manager for El Moro Tavern and the Durango chapter president for the Colorado Restaurant Association, the two began by discussing gun control in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting that left 21 people dead earlier this week before moving to more local topics such as public land management, wildfires, worker shortages and water.<\/p>\n

\"State
State Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert debate in front of a crowded audience Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. The two discussed a range of topics, including gun control, agriculture and worker shortages. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"State
State Sen. Don Coram listens to U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert as the two debate Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. The two offered voters opposing styles of legislating and criticized one another throughout the debate. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

In the strictly cast event with no signs and no cheering after questions, Boebert supporters broke out multiple times in applause while Coram supporters laughed at statements the congresswoman made, prompting Boebert at one point to shout \u201corder.\u201d<\/p>\n

The debate was relatively civil at the beginning with both candidates answering Woodruff\u2019s questions and trading barbs, but it quickly devolved into attacks during the approximately 10 minutes of cross examination when each candidate was allowed to ask a question of the other and then respond.<\/p>\n

Boebert\u2019s first attempt was less a question than a comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon, I want you to hear this directly from me,\u201d she said. \u201cThe information proposed about you at corruptcoram.com is absolutely facts, facts, facts. You are corrupt sir. You use your political office to pass legislation to line your own pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Woodruff interjected and asked the Rifle Republican to ask a question, she said: \u201cAny comments?\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout her primary campaign, Boebert has taken to calling her opponent \u201cCorrupt Coram,\u201d alleging that he used his time in the Colorado Legislature to pass legislation that would benefit his hemp operation and citing the website \u201ccorruptcoram.com\u201d and an editorial by The Gazette<\/em> in Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n

Boebert\u2019s campaign runs corruptcoram.com, and The Gazette<\/em> editorial board endorsed Boebert in the 2020 election.<\/p>\n

\"Dave
Dave Woodruff, general manager for El Moro Tavern and the Durango chapter president for the Colorado Restaurant Association, moderates the debate between state Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert as Jean Walter with the League of Women Voters keeps the time Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Coram, a Montrose Republican, returned the jab, noting the Federal Election Commission\u2019s investigation into Boebert\u2019s personal use of campaign funds and her failure to disclose her husband\u2019s income from the energy industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are absolutely false, and if you want to talk about corruption, let\u2019s talk about you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

During the debate, Coram positioned himself as a moderate who could work across the aisle. He relied heavily on his track record as a state representative and a senator in arguing for voters\u2019 support.<\/p>\n

Boebert also touted her work in the U.S. House over the last year and a half, often answering Woodruff\u2019s question by highlighting legislation she has introduced.<\/p>\n

\"State
State Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert debate Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio in the first of two debates ahead of next month\u2019s 3rd Congressional District Republican primary. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rep.
Rep. Lauren Boebert answers a question while debating state Sen. Don Coram at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. Boebert questioned Coram\u2019s conservative credentials and highlighted her own in fiery two-minute segments. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Coram finished his opening statement by challenging Boebert\u2019s work, comparing her time in Congress to a football player who throws many passes but completes few.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are introducing, introducing, introducing, but passing is the word,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Both candidates hit on conservative policies, including border security, stopping fentanyl, reining in spending and a limited role for the federal government. However, Boebert attacked Coram\u2019s Republican credentials throughout the debate.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert answers a question while debating state Sen. Don Coram on Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. The debate quickly devolved into attacks during the approximately 10 minutes of cross examination when each candidate was allowed to ask a question of the other and then respond. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

She questioned Coram\u2019s 2017 vote to fund the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, a voluntary and anonymous survey that asks middle and high schoolers about topics including sexual activity, drug and alcohol use, and suicide.<\/p>\n

Coram was one of two Republicans who voted to renew funding for the survey, which in recent years has become a target of conservatives.<\/p>\n

Boebert also targeted Coram\u2019s vote for a 2019 bill that made less than 4 grams of fentanyl a misdemeanor, a vote Coram said he regretted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly stand by my votes and don\u2019t regret them because I read the bills and understand them,\u201d Boebert said.<\/p>\n

Though the candidates\u2019 differed in their approaches to the debate \u2013 Boebert fiery and charismatic and Coram calm and reasoned \u2013 the starkest difference between the two was in their responses to Woodruff\u2019s question about election integrity.<\/p>\n

Toeing the line of former President Donald Trump\u2019s false election claims, Boebert said hundreds of thousands of votes were cast illegally and that the \u201cFauci-funded China virus\u201d (coronavirus) interfered with the 2020 election, a statement that was met with guffaws from Coram\u2019s supporters.<\/p>\n

Coram did not reject that voter fraud may have occurred during the last election, but he said there was no evidence to support Boebert\u2019s claims, later telling reporters that every election has some degree of voter fraud but that it does not make a difference in the outcome.<\/p>\n

\"State
State Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert debate Thursday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. The room was divided between Boebert\u2019s supporters on the right and Coram\u2019s on the left. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019ve heard all these talks about all this evidence, but I\u2019ve never seen it in a court of law,\u201d Coram said during the debate.<\/p>\n

The responses from both candidates oscillated between addressing local and national issues as they sought to appeal to the Republican and unaffiliated voters in Colorado\u2019s 3rd Congressional District who will decide the June 28 Republican primary.<\/p>\n

The 3rd Congressional District covers the Western Slope of Colorado and extends to Pueblo County in the southern half of the state.<\/p>\n

Boebert often approached her responses through a national lens, assailing federal policies for Colorado\u2019s workforce shortages and depicting immigration into a local issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery state is a border state when you have 3 million illegal aliens invading our country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

When asked by Woodruff after she discussed her vocal opposition to pandemic shutdowns why she voted no on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act, which would put $42 billion toward supporting restaurants and small businesses affected by the pandemic, Boebert put her platform succinctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have to look at that bill specifically, but I\u2019m sure that there was something with too much spending, not the proper role of government or not going through the proper order,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Coram reiterated his background in agriculture and his time representing the Western Slope throughout the debate. He attempted to keep his answers focused on local issues relevant to the voters of the 3rd Congressional District, portraying Boebert as out of touch with the issues voters in the district face.<\/p>\n

\"State
State Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert shake hands at the conclusion of Thursday\u2019s debate at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

During the cross examination, Coram asked Boebert about her stance on water as a public trust.<\/p>\n

Public trust doctrine holds that water can never be privately controlled, a departure from Colorado\u2019s system of prior appropriation, which essentially allows water to be possessed and sold by private individuals.<\/p>\n

Boebert dodged the question, leading Coram to ask it again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s a great answer, but it doesn\u2019t answer the question,\u201d Coram said.<\/p>\n

The debate began awkwardly when Boebert met Coram on stage and Coram questioned why his opponent had notes, saying he believed the candidates\u2019 campaigns had agreed to not allow them.<\/p>\n

Boebert, who referred to her notes throughout the debate, replied that the campaigns had agreed to allow paper.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters after the debate, Coram said he and his campaign felt good about the race, noting that unaffiliated voters, a growing subset of the district\u2019s voters, will be able to cast a ballot in the primary. Boebert did not speak with reporters, instead engaging with her supporters after the event.<\/p>\n

A second debate between the two Republican candidates will be held in Pueblo ahead of the June primary, but a date and time has yet to be determined.<\/p>\n

Both candidates professed Thursday to offer voters their own approach to legislating.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very effective in getting things done because I know how to work together and create coalitions,\u201d Coram said. \u201cWe have a nation in D.C. that is so divided that they couldn\u2019t agree on buying ice cream and that needs to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boebert made a different pitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ran as a conservative and I won as a conservative. I legislate as a conservative because I am one, and I will win this primary because I\u2019m the only conservative in this race,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

ahannon@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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