Douglas Lawrence Lamborn (born May 24, 1954) is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district is based in Colorado Springs.
Early life and career
Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, Lamborn attended Lansing High School, in Lansing, Kansas. After graduation, he earned a B.S. in journalism from the University of Kansas in 1978 and J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1985. He moved to Colorado Springs and became a private attorney focusing on business and real estate law.
Colorado Legislature
Elections
In 1994, Lamborn was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. In 1998, he was elected to the Colorado State Senate.
He was elected Republican House Whip in 1997. He was elected Senate President Pro-tem in 1999. Lamborn served in the Colorado Senate until winning a seat in the United States Congress.
Tenure
While in the State Senate Lamborn sponsored the largest tax cut in Colorado State history, and was named the highest-ranking tax cutter in the Senate five times by a conservative activist group called the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.
Committee assignments
Lamborn was the ranking Republican on the Colorado State Military and Veterans Affairs, and Appropriations committees.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2006
On February 16, 2006, Joel Hefley announced he would retire after 10 terms in Congress.
In the Republican primary to succeed him, Hefley backed his longtime aide, former Administrative Director Jeff Crank. In the August 8, 2006, election, Lamborn narrowly defeated Crank and four other candidates to win the nomination in a contentious race. He ran on conservative positions: opposing gun control, abortion except when the mother's life is threatened, federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, denying public benefits to illegal immigrants, and new eminent domain rulings.
Lamborn defeated Lieutenant Colonel Jay Fawcett, the Democratic nominee for the open seat in Colorado's 5th congressional district, on November 7, 2006.
2008
Jeff Crank and Major General Bentley Rayburn both challenged Lamborn in the 2008 Republican primary. Both lost to Lamborn in the 2006 primary. Lamborn won the primary election on August 12, 2008, with 45 percent of the 56,171 votes cast. Crank got 29 percent and Rayburn got 26 percent.
Lamborn defeated Democratic challenger Lieutenant Colonel Hal Bidlack in the 2008 election.
2010
Lamborn was challenged by Democratic nominee Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Bradley. He won re-election.
2012
Lamborn was challenged in the Republican primary by businessman Robert Blaha. Lamborn won 62–38 percent. He had the support of Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum political action committee.
2014
Lamborn was challenged by Democratic nominee Major General Irv Halter. He won with 59.8% of the vote.
2018
In January 2018, Lamborn announced he would run for reelection in the 2018 elections. After a Colorado High Court ruling initially disqualified him from appearing on the June primary ballot due to questions of signatures and residency, he was reinstated on the ballot when a federal judge ruled in his favor, citing his First Amendment claim. He faced and defeated three challengers in the Republican primary. He won the general election.
2020
On January 9, Lamborn declared his candidacy for an eighth House term. He qualified for the primary ballot in March with over 2,000 valid signatures and won the June 30 primary unopposed. In the November general election, Lamborn defeated Democratic nominee Jillian Freeland.
Tenure
An office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was established in Colorado Springs in Lamborn's district. The office opened in February 2009 and increased immigration enforcement agents in the area from two to ten. "The immediate need is to address those that have committed a crime and make sure they're sent out of the country", Lamborn said. This would not place in jeopardy employers who hire illegal immigrants in the first place or who pay these workers without any withholding tax or below the minimum wage.
There has also been a Brigade Combat Team in his district since December 2007. The Brigade Combat Team consisting of almost 5,000 soldiers, their families, support personnel as well as increased military construction.
Congressional Quarterly said that through the first August recess, Lamborn had voted by strict party lines the most of any House member and more than any other Republican.