More Republicans call for Colorado GOP chair to step down
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DENVER (KDVR) — There are new calls for the leader of the Colorado Republican Party to step down.
On Friday, sources shared with FOX31 a letter signed by Republican congressional nominees and the state Senate Republican leader, all asking Dave Williams to resign as party chair.
Judge blocks meeting to oust Colorado GOP chair
The process to remove Williams as chair started in June after he called for all pride flags to be burned. Since then, Williams has not backed down from that rhetoric but also lost his race for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. Before losing in that primary, Williams was caught using money meant for the party on his own campaign mailers.
Republicans made moves to oust him following the Republican National Convention, but Williams has found several ways to stall the process seeking to remove him as chair.
Now, prominent Republicans are saying they have had enough. Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen signed onto a letter along with six Republican congressional candidates, including Jeff Crank, who won the primary in the 5th District, asking Williams to leave his post.
“It’s time that state party leadership who work for the benefit of the party replace leadership that has used the office for personal purposes,” Lundeen told FOX31 in a statement.
Boebert releases statement on Williams
FOX31 political analyst Michael Fields said Republicans in Colorado and beyond want a leader who can help win some highly coveted congressional seats.
“You think about CD3, CD8, close races, ones that need a lot of attention, that you need to be working very closely with the state party in supporting. I know that’s not happening right now. Even nationally, the National Republican Congressional Committee isn’t working with the state party here because of issues that they have with them. So, I think they look at this and say we need everybody rowing in the same direction, we need everybody on the same page, we need unity,” Fields said.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert did not sign the letter with the other Republican congressional nominees, but she did put out a statement on Facebook:
“The past month of public dissension and infighting in the Colorado Republican Party has been embarrassing to watch as we have a golden opportunity this November to flip seats at every level of government. Instead of uniting and focusing our message on securing our border, unleashing American energy, and getting President Trump back to the White House, we’ve seen lawsuits, threats, and censures, resulting in a failure to come together fueled by all sides of the party.
This isn’t about competing policies or ideologies; this is about a failure from Chairman Williams to lead after our Primary Election and simply reach out to candidates and organizations throughout Colorado and beyond to offer support, mend bridges, and present a clear gameplan of how we can win together in November. An attempted, and likely contested, change in leadership at COGOP just 100 days out from Election Day will be disruptive and damaging, but Chairman Williams has put himself in this situation.
I stand ready to publicly help and provide support to Republicans up and down the ballot, regardless of whether or not I agree with them on every issue. If Chairman Williams can’t do the same and refuses to show candidates he will, Republicans in Colorado and nationally will look in a different direction for leadership over the final 100 days.”
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, CO-03
FOX31 reached out to the Colorado Republican Party. Their vice chair said Boebert received erroneous information, and they are supporting nominees.
The Colorado Republican State Central Committee planned to hold a meeting on Saturday with plans to take a vote on Williams’ leadership as chair. That meeting may be in limbo after a judge granted a temporary restraining order in Williams’ favor, but Fields believes Williams’ time as chair will come to an end soon — whether the committee meets on Saturday or not.
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“There are already four people running to replace him. So, there are those alternatives out there. I think it’s moving in that direction. The question is when will it be recognized? Will a vote happen that gets rid of him now? Will it happen later? I would be surprised if at the end of the year, we are sitting here and he is the chairman still,” Fields said.
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