It’s a strange thing when the vice chairwoman of a state Republican Party shares a Democrat’s ad smearing another Republican. Meanwhile, that party’s chairman runs for Congress in another district, garnering Donald Trump’s endorsement but fundraising off the former president’s contorted verdict.
This bizarre saga is unfolding in Colorado, where primary day is Tuesday and internal strife within the Colorado GOP threatens to undermine the party and Trump himself.
On Thursday, party vice chairwoman Hope Scheppelman shared a video attacking Republican Jeff Hurd, the favorite to replace Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) in the 3rd Congressional District. (Boebert has moved to the 4th.) The original ad included the disclaimer “Paid for by Adam Frisch,” the Democratic nominee. But Scheppelman removed it and reposted the ad dozens of times on social media.
Hurd’s opponent, Ron Hanks, once blew up a photocopier in a campaign stunt. The GOP endorsed Hanks, whose fame has been propelled by Democratic dark money claiming he’s “too conservative.”
Removing the “paid-for” disclaimer and distributing the ad could constitute an in-kind contribution to Frisch and a Federal Election Commission violation.
Meanwhile, if Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams and company have their way, the GOP risks losing a Republican seat and, with it, the balance of power in the House. In turn, Trump could lose a shot at Colorado’s blue-leaning 8th District, where Williams endorsed Janak Joshi as the supposed “America First” MAGA candidate — contra Trump, who backs Gabe Evans.
The Colorado GOP’s meddling in primaries now amounts to endorsing Democratic candidates over Republicans not chosen by Williams — even in the state’s most competitive red congressional district, as if the party is led by Democratic double agents.
This is only the most brazen example and culmination of a complete breakdown in the party under Williams’s leadership as he exploits his Trump endorsement.
Following the president’s May 30 felony conviction, Williams sent party emails and social media posts soliciting donations to “Support Trump & COGOP.” His congressional campaign sought funds to “STAND WITH TRUMP & DAVE.”
“Any Republican elected official, candidate or party committee siphoning money from President Trump’s donors are no better than Judge Merchan’s daughter,” Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita rebuked. “We’re keeping a list, we’ll be checking it twice and we aren’t in the spirit of Christmas.”
Williams and the Colorado GOP belong atop that list. Even as they raised money off Trump’s verdict, not a dime went to the Trump campaign.
Days later, FEC records show, Williams’s campaign paid $5,583.33 to Axiom Strategies, a firm Trump has repeatedly derided. Why would “Trump’s man” in Colorado hire a firm of which Trump disapproves, especially after defying Trump and profiting off his verdict?
Rank-and-file Colorado Republicans are strongly pro-Trump, yet Williams faces surging criticism from Republicans for running for Congress while clinging to party leadership and using GOP resources to attack his primary opponent.
Wiliams violated party bylaws by endorsing primary candidates who met his selective criteria, criteria that would disqualify Trump.
Several county parties and GOP leaders, including Denver’s Republican Party, have called for Williams’s resignation or removal since he sent a party email denouncing Pride Month. He called for all Pride flags to be burned and employed the slogan “God hates flags,” echoing the Westboro Baptist Church’s “God hates fags.”
The party’s openly gay nominee for Denver’s 1st Congressional District and president of Colorado’s Log Cabin Republicans, Valdamar Archuleta, rejected its endorsement.
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Trump has made strides with groups that Republicans traditionally struggle with, including the LGBT, black, and Hispanic communities. Williams’s actions threaten these gains, even as former first lady Melania Trump personally engages in LGBT outreach. It’s hard to fathom Trump wants to be associated with such flagrant bigotry.
In the end, Donald Trump may not win Colorado, but the House races remain critical. Alas, with friends like these, who needs enemies?
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, twice-weekly columnist at the Denver Gazette, and longtime Denver talk radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X @SengCenter.