A relatively unknown state legislative aide came 18 votes shy of becoming a congresswoman Thursday.

Calandra Vargas, a 32-year-old from Colorado Springs, gave the speech of her life during the 5th Congressional District Assembly and secured 58 percent of the delegate vote.

Congressman Doug Lamborn, a five-term incumbent, received 35 percent. He needed 30 percent of the vote to make the ballot.

Had Vargas won 18 more votes she would have kicked Lamborn from the ballot – and without a Democrat in the race, Vargas would have become congresswoman by default.

But Lamborn held on to compete again in the June 28 primary, which will have a much larger audience.

“This is an unusual election year, but I am confident that I will retain the trust of the voters in the 5th Congressional District,” Lamborn said after the results. “I will be using this time to demonstrate that, unlike my opponent, I have the proven record of conservative leadership and achievement.”

Vargas said she decided the week of her caucus to be nominated from the floor of the assembly.

“When I heard that no one was challenging him, working at the state Capitol, being involved in politics, hearing a thousand speeches, there was just a fire in my heart that said I have to do this. I have to run,” Vagas said. “It’s humbling, to be honest. I came here today to make a statement on behalf of my generation, on behalf of my friends.”

Her statement was heard loud and clear.

Her address to hundreds of delegates in the ballroom of The DoubleTree hotel brought some of the crowd to its feet.

Few people, however, know much if anything about Vargas, a legislative aide to state Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction.

Scott said he wasn’t going to talk Vargas out of it, although he was surprised to hear she nearly hit 60 percent of the vote.

“She’s sharp,” Scott said.

Vargas has also worked on the campaign of Rep. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, who said she “knocked it out of the park” with her speech. She was an intern in Lamborn’s office in 2011, according to her LinkedIn account.

“I like Lamborn a lot,” said Michael Felts, who voted for Vargas. “But I do think there is something to be said for term limits. She’s fiery. She supports the same things. She’s ready to get things done, and sometimes it takes fresh blood to get in there and stir things up.”

Randolph Licht said he voted for Lamborn because he remembers watching the Tea Party candidates fizzle after getting elected.

“You have no idea what happens after the pressure hits them,” Licht said. “At the congressional level I want someone who has stood up to pressure before because most of them cave.”

Licht said Lamborn’s number one weakness is he’s not a great public speaker.

Lamborn has faced a primary every year he’s been in office except one. In 2014, retired Gen. Bentley Rayburn made the race close by earning 47 percent of the vote. He also was nominated from the floor of the assembly and then launched his campaign.

Lamborn was nominated by Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who backed the longtime local politician.

“Folks, I don’t want a congressman that I have to call and tell him how to be a conservative,” Williams said. “Ten years ago I stood before you and said we need a conservative we can count on to serve … and folks, I am so ecstatic to say that Doug Lamborn has been that congressman.”

Lamborn took the stage and outlined the work he’s done to protect veterans and defend the nation from Democrats like President Barack Obama and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

Vargas said “the Republican Party has failed us, nationally and locally.”

“It’s time to get serious. I don’t know about you, but I’m done. That’s why I’m running today,” Vargas said. “What are you willing to do to make sure our party has a future? What are you willing to do? Do you want a congressman who shows up at election season and gives a nice speech and a list of things you want to hear? Or do you want a congresswoman who is an outspoken leader, who won’t settle, is a team player and who will confront liberals and who also believes it is her job to make the Republican Party a party we can all be proud of?”

Vargas received 347 votes. Lamborn received 210 votes and a third candidate, Matthew Grubesic, got 41 votes.

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Contact Megan Schrader: 286-0644

Twitter @CapitolSchrader