Watch Live: Colorado's Lauren Boebert Democratic challenger Trisha Calvarese clash over economy, jobs, spending

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U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Trisha Calverese on Tuesday clashed in their only debate so far in the race for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

But they also agreed on a few things.

Both said they would oppose foreign interests buying up America’s farmlands.

The two candidates also want to extend existing tax cuts. Boebert said she wants to add more, while Calvarese said the middle class needs a tax break.

But Boebert and Calvarese offered their competing visions on the economy-focused debate that took place with about a month to go before voters receive early ballots.

Calvarese went on the offensive, notably attacking Boebert’s vote against spending measures. Boebert defended her record, saying she won’t necessarily vote for major legislation just because she might support some of its elements.

Boebert blamed the federal government for many of the woes facing Americans.

“It’s important to get the feds out of the way,” she said, referring to housing.

It does not work, she added, when the federal government “comes in and controls our local communities.”

“The best thing we can do is stop spending your money,” Boebert said. “You are taxed, double taxed, triple taxed.”

And, in a no-subtle dig at President Joe Biden, Boebert said Congress routinely sends massive spending measures for the president to sign, “when he can find his pen.”

Calvarese said Boebert asked for earmarks in spending measures – only to then vote against them.

At point, when Boebert acknowledged pushing to end federal programs, the Democrat said she “likes to get things done,” not just shut them done.

“What about cuts to the VA?” Calvarese said. “That would hurt veterans.”

The lunchtime debate was so far the only meet-up scheduled between the two major party candidates running in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, which covers Douglas County, parts of Larimer and Weld Counties, and the Eastern Plains.

Boebert and Calvarese both emerged from crowded primaries for the seat formerly represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned in March. Republican Greg Lopez defeated Calvarese in a June special election to serve out the remainder of Buck's term .

Sponsored by The Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, Colorado Politics and the Denver Gazette, the debate will be moderated by political reporter Ernest Luning. It took place during the group's regular luncheon meeting at The Club at Ravenna, 8285 Dante Drive, south of the Chatfield Reservoir.

Elected twice in the Western Slope-based 3rd Congressional District, Boebert moved at the beginning of the year across the state to Windsor in Weld County, inside the more solidly Republican 4th CD, after Buck announced he wasn't running for reelection.

Calvarese, a former speechwriter for the AFL-CIO and the National Science Foundation who grew up in Highlands Ranch, returned from the East Coast last year to care for her ailing parents, who both died last fall.

The district is ranked as a safe seat for Boebert by national election forecasters, but Calvarese contends she can beat the odds, citing internal polling and a massive fundraising haul in July , since winning the primary.

Ballots start going out to Colorado voters on Oct. 11 and are due back to county clerks by Nov. 5.

This is a developing story.