Boebert's first debate was a 'clown car crash' as 6 GOP candidates admit arrest records

After leapfrogging to a new district to improve her re-election chances, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) participated in her first GOP debate on Thursday night before the Colorado primary scheduled for March 5.

As both the New York Times and Axios are reporting, it was at times contentious with John Frank of Axios writing that what transpired has all the signs of "a Republican primary that is devolving into a clown-car crash."

According to the reports, Boebert's decision to run in the more GOP-friendly 4th Congressional District was front-and-center in the debate with her rivals for the nomination calling her out as a carpetbagger.

In particular, State Representative Mike Lynch (R), who this week stepped down as the GOP minority leader in the statehouse, fired back at her after she brought up his DUI arrest by asking her, "Can you give the definition of 'carpetbagger' to me?"

With Boebert saying she moved to give her kids a "fresh start," she then added, “And this move is the right move for me and for them.”

RELATED: 'Shocked': In-depth report finds mounting rage at Lauren Boebert in new district

According to the Times report, "At one point, candidates were asked to raise their hands if they had ever been arrested. Six of the nine candidates onstage raised their hands, to cheers and applause from the audience. Trent Leisy, a Navy veteran and business owner, high-fived Mr. Lynch and Ms. Boebert while their hands were raised."

The report notes that Boebert admitted to having been arrested only once over "a simple traffic violation that was unpaid," with the Times' Chris Cameron adding, "the local news media have reported at least two additional arrests. In one incident in 2015, Ms. Boebert told police officers who were arresting her that she 'had friends at Fox News' and that the arrest would be national news."

You can read more from the Times here.