By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice
Dave Williams will become the fifth straight one-term chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, announcing the decision in an email to members Friday not to seek re-election.
“After much prayerful consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election as chairman of the Colorado Republican Party,” he announced.
Williams was elected in 2023 to succeed Kristi Burton Brown as chairwoman, bringing in what he had described as a “grassroots majority” era of the party. He was the fifth in a string of one-term party leaders, including before Burton Brown: Ken Buck, preceded by Jeff Hays, preceded by Steve House. Ryan Call, who preceded House, was the last two-term party leader. A chairman’s term is two years, with elections in odd calendar years.
The announcement began much like a Virginia Slims commercial: “We have come a long way, proving the naysayers wrong time and time again.”
Williams announced he had “chosen to move in a different direction and be effective for the movement in a new capacity.” He did not indicate what that capacity might be.
Among the accomplishments of the Colorado GOP under Williams, he noted the elimination of the Democratic supermajority in the Colorado House, increased Republican voter registrations, growth in small-donor base, elimination of what he has termed “fraud, waste and abuse” of the prior administration, creating expense savings for the state assembly, and delivering on a promise to sue Jena Griswold over open primaries.
“Most importantly, we fought to keep President Donald J. Trump on the ballot in Colorado and nationwide, taking our battle to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Williams said.
He told members there’s a “Never-Trump wing” of the party that still exists and which “seize every opportunity to tear down fellow grassroots Republicans.”
But, he lost support from some Central Committee members over an unprecedented decision to endorse one Republican over another in party primaries. For example, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who got one of those endorsements, has criticized in recent Lincoln dinners on the Eastern Plains that U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans was not endorsed and neither was U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, who Williams opposed in a primary.
Others point out Williams retained enough support to overcome a bid to oust him this past summer.
Williams was also criticized for anti-LGBT rhetoric in an email he signed during his tenure, and also for abuse of position related to his personal bid for U.S. House District 5 against Crank. Some in the party thought he should have resigned in order to seek the office. Instead, he got the endorsement from the party.
Williams points to wins in 2024 — the addition of three seats in the Colorado House, holding serve in the Colorado Senate and adding a seat in the U.S. House — as evidence of Republican momentum. Others say the victories were without the support of the state party.
“I look forward to continuing the fight for our shared values in a new and impactful way,” Williams said.
The Colorado Republican Party’s reorganizational meeting is March 29 at a time and place to be determined.