Conservative activist Jeff Crank was leading Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams in early results Tuesday night in the Republican primary for a Colorado Springs-based congressional seat.
Crank had 43,571 votes, or 68% of the total, to 20,609 votes for Williams, or 32%, in early results posted to the Colorado secretary of state’s website after voting ended at 7 p.m. They were competing for the nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in a bruising primary race that highlighted deepening rifts in the GOP.
In the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Joe Reagan was narrowly leading with 15,704 votes, or 51%, to 15,289 votes for River Gassen, or 49%.
The winners of the contests will face off in November. The Republican winner will start the general election race with a leg up in the historically conservative district. It’s the first time in nearly 20 years that Lamborn, a Republican who previously beat both Williams and Crank in party primaries, hasn’t sought the seat.
Crank and Williams largely aligned on policy and politics, but their different approaches underscored the tensions facing the Colorado Republican Party.
Crank, a longtime radio host and vice president with the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, sought to keep the focus on fighting Democratic priorities and tightening border security and immigration. Williams, the state party chair since early last year, cast himself as a no-holds-barred conservative ready to fight even fellow Republicans.
Williams’ hardline stances as party chair led to outrage among some Republicans across the state. In June, the party sent an email titled “God hates pride” that smeared the LGBTQ+ community. That resulted in widespread condemnation, with some prominent Republicans and county parties calling for Williams’ ouster.
Meanwhile, mailers paid for by the party sought to bolster Williams’ campaign and tear down Crank. A splash ad on the state GOP’s website featured a smiling picture of Williams and former President Donald Trump under the slogan MAGA, while Crank was pictured under the word “globalist.”
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It appeared to backfire with some voters, including one who hosted a meet-and-greet with Crank explicitly because they didn’t like party resources going to attack fellow Republicans.
It’s unclear how much party money or resources went to boost Williams. The last federal filing by the party showed nearly $20,000 went to support Williams’ candidacy, though the treasurer for the party and Williams’ campaign said the party wasn’t out any money.
The political action committee for Americans for Prosperity, meanwhile, spent more than $400,000 to attack Williams’ candidacy, though Crank said the group erected a firewall between him and its political side as soon as he announced his candidacy. More than $2.5 million has been spent in that race, most of which was to support Crank or attack Williams, according to Open Secrets.
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