DENVER — Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams, who has tried to push the state party to extremes, was ousted over the weekend in a vote that he called illegitimate, precipitating a leadership standoff as the November election looms.
William’s tenure as chair led to party infighting as he leaned into public attacks against fellow Republicans who didn’t fit his idea of ultraconservative or endorse his extreme tactics echoing those of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The fight mirrors a national split in the GOP between more traditional Republicans and a more combative flank comprising politicians such as Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.
It also shows the challenges that such extreme politics face in Colorado. Opposition to Williams’ methods grew as the party under his leadership endorsed certain Republican primary candidates over others, a move that state parties tend to avoid, at least publicly.
Williams is also accused of using state party resources to benefit his own failed congressional primary election bid, and was criticized for refusing to step down as party chair after joining the race. Emails and posts from the party attacking the LGBTQ community, including a call to burn pride flags, were also met with disappointment from some fellow Republicans.
The growing resistance culminated in Saturday’s vote, with a majority of the 180 or so state party central committee members, or their proxies, who were in attendance voting to oust him.
In a news release, the Colorado GOP called the meeting a “sham,” and said that a majority of the more than 400 member committee weren’t in attendance. Williams said they can only seek to remove officers at the upcoming Aug. 31 meeting.
“This fringe minority faction knows they cannot get their way in a fair meeting where the rules are fairly administered,” said Williams in a text message.
The conflict comes down to an interpretation of the bylaws, and the decision could end in the hands of the Republican National Committee. The National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect Republicans in the U.S. House, said it will recognize the vote and the newly elected leadership.
Williams said in a text that the NRCC has “no authority to do anything.”
While GOP chairman, Williams ran in a Republican primary race for the U.S. House seat in Colorado Springs, about an hour’s drive south of Denver. While he gained Trump’s attention and eventual endorsement, he lost to a more moderate Republican.
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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
In a surprising turn of events, the Colorado GOP chair was removed from his position in a vote that has been dismissed as controversial by the ousted official. The decision to remove Steve House as chair of the Colorado Republican Party came after a contentious meeting of party officials, where House faced criticism for his leadership style and handling of party affairs.
House, who had been serving as chair since 2015, was ousted in a close vote that saw him replaced by Kristi Burton Brown, a conservative activist and attorney. The decision to remove House has sparked debate within the party, with some members supporting the move as necessary for the party’s future success, while others have criticized it as a power grab by a faction of the party.
House himself has spoken out against the vote, calling it “unfair and unjust” and accusing his opponents of using underhanded tactics to remove him from office. He has vowed to continue fighting for the values and principles of the Republican Party, despite no longer holding an official leadership position.
The controversy surrounding House’s removal highlights the divisions within the Colorado GOP, as the party grapples with how best to position itself in an increasingly polarized political landscape. With the 2022 midterm elections on the horizon, the party will need to come together and present a united front if they hope to achieve success at the polls.
It remains to be seen how House’s removal will impact the Colorado GOP moving forward. Will the party be able to rally behind its new leadership and present a strong, unified front in the upcoming elections? Or will internal divisions continue to hamper their efforts to win over voters and secure victories at the ballot box?
One thing is clear: the Colorado GOP is at a crossroads, and how they navigate the fallout from House’s removal will have significant implications for the party’s future success. Only time will tell if they are able to overcome this controversy and emerge stronger and more united than ever before.
