Colorado GOP chair defeated in congressional primary

Jeff Crank beat former state Rep. Dave Williams in the Colorado Republican primary election in the congressional district that covers Colorado Springs, according to The Associated Press.

Williams is the chair of the Colorado Republican Party.

The 5th District seat is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, who announced in January he would not seek reelection after representing the district since 2007. The AP called the race at 8:01.

Crank is a longtime political consultant and radio show host. He previously ran in the 5th District GOP primary in 2006 and 2008. He’s a former executive with the free-market organization Americans for Prosperity, and in the 1990s he served on the Washington staff of a previous 5th District representative, Joel Hefley.

Crank earned endorsements from Lamborn and Speaker Mike Johnson. He also benefited from almost $1.5 million in outside spending on his campaign. He clobbered Williams in campaign fundraising.

Williams, an outspoken election denier, became the chair of the Colorado Republican Party in 2023. He was endorsed in his bid for Congress by former President Donald Trump.

Williams has come under fire within his own party for several divisive moves. The state party this month put out anti-LGBTQ messages that many party members found offensive. The party under Williams leadership has jettisoned a tradition of remaining neutral in primary races and has instead endorsed favored candidates this year, including Williams himself. The party in May spent almost $20,000 to support Williams’ race against Crank, The Colorado Sun reported.

A growing contingent of party officials is calling for Williams to resign or to be voted out of his role as party chair.

Williams ran against Lamborn in the 2022 GOP primary election and lost. The seat is viewed as likely to be won by the Republican candidate in the general election.

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