July 27th 2024.
A controversial move to remove the head of the Colorado Republican Party was halted on Friday by a district court judge, just as calls for his resignation reached a boiling point. Dave Williams, who has been at the helm of the party amidst much controversy and internal strife, faced mounting pressure from various party leaders to step down. This included most of the state's Republican congressional nominees and Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen. Even U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who was endorsed by the state party in the June primaries, publicly criticized Williams on Facebook, although she did not explicitly call for his removal.
The court ruling on Friday effectively put a pause on any official business at the planned meeting of the party's central committee on Saturday in Brighton, where some members were hoping to oust Williams. The frustration with Williams stems from the party's decision to endorse a slate of candidates during the primaries, using party resources to boost their preferred Republicans while attacking others. This tactic was met with widespread condemnation, including for an anti-LGBTQ+ email sent during Pride Month in June. To make matters worse, most of the party's preferred candidates ended up losing their primaries, including Williams himself.
A group of county Republican Party leaders, led by El Paso County vice chair Todd Watkins and Jefferson County chair Nancy Pallozzi, had been attempting to force a special meeting of the central committee to replace Williams as party chair. According to party bylaws, this would require the support of 60% of the committee members. However, state party officials deemed the planned meeting "illegal" and even filed a lawsuit against the party leaders who had called for it. Watkins and others argued that the bylaws required the meeting to be held within 30 days of filing the petition, and the party's attempt to hold a meeting the previous week, which lasted only a few minutes and did not have enough members present, did not fulfill this requirement.
In a crucial decision on Friday afternoon, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Thomas W. Henderson granted a restraining order to prevent any official business from taking place at Saturday's meeting. The judge cited the potential harm this could cause to the party, as well as the chaos it would create just 100 days before the November 2024 election. This order will remain in effect for two weeks or until a hearing takes place on the party's request for a preliminary injunction.
The members who had called for the meeting did not respond to requests for comment, while the state party celebrated the ruling with a prominent ad on their homepage. However, this did not quell the growing calls for Williams' resignation. Earlier in the day, six out of the eight Republican nominees for Colorado's congressional seats signed a letter urging Williams to step down immediately, or face removal by the central committee the following day. This letter was also signed by Lundeen and endorsed candidates, including Valdamar Archuleta, Marshall Dawson, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank, John Fabbricatore, and Gabe Evans.
Lundeen also added, "It's time for the party leadership to step up and replace those who prioritize their own agendas over the party's best interests." Meanwhile, Boebert, who represents the 3rd District and is running for re-election in the 4th, did not sign the letter, but she did express her disappointment with Williams' leadership on Facebook. She criticized him for failing to reach out to candidates and organizations to heal the post-primary division, as well as for failing to support and unite Republicans for the upcoming election. She also called the recent infighting and public discord within the party "embarrassing."
Boebert stated that an attempt to change leadership just 100 days before the election would be "disruptive and damaging," but she also placed the blame on Williams for creating this situation. She concluded by saying that she is ready to support and assist Republican candidates, regardless of whether they agree with her on all issues. However, if Williams cannot do the same and fails to show his support for candidates, then the party will have to look elsewhere for leadership.
In response, the state party issued an unsigned statement, addressing Boebert's concerns and criticizing Lundeen's call for Williams' resignation. They reassured that they have already expressed their full support for the party's nominees and are working to provide them with the necessary resources for success. They also added that Lundeen's actions were morally questionable, especially since he remained silent when another party leader was caught driving under the influence earlier this year.
Several Republicans have put themselves forward as potential replacements for Williams, including former U.S. Senate candidate and El Paso County Republican Party chair Eli Bremer, who believes that the party needs someone to "triage the situation." Douglas County Republican Chairman Steve Peck also expressed his interest in leading the party, stating that they need to "reverse course" and win Democratic seats in November. To stay updated on Colorado politics, sign up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
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