Lauren Boebert Endorsement Sparks Republican Backlash

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's Republican opponents have voiced criticism for Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams after the state Republican Party endorsed Boebert for U.S. Congress.

Boebert, a Colorado Republican, currently serves her state's 3rd Congressional District but is campaigning for Colorado's 4th Congressional District—a seat previously held by Republican Rep. Ken Buck and is now vacant.

The Colorado GOP announced their support for Boebert in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, writing: "Our Party is proud to endorse @laurenboebert for Congress as she's the only candidate in the race with a backbone & proven record of success fighting the corrupt media & failed establishment in Washington D.C."

While the endorsement was unusual, it did not break any of the Colorado GOP's bylaws, thanks to a new rule that allows the party to endorse a primary candidate if they make the ballot by a 30 percent delegate vote at the state Republican assembly.

GOP Colorado State Rep. Richard Holtorf, who is running against Boebert, called on Williams, who is running for the state's 5th Congressional District, to resign as Colorado GOP chairman following Boebert's endorsement.

In a statement on Tuesday, Holtorf said Williams should resign "for numerous conflicts of interest and promoting radical endorsement policies, which alienate Republican candidates for statewide or federal offices."

He added: "Williams should face ethical and legal review for his continued abuse of State GOP policies and bylaws."

Deborah Flora, another Colorado 4th Congressional District candidate, also spoke out against Williams, writing on X on Tuesday: "The state GOP chair is using the party platform to promote his and Lauren Boebert's congressional campaigns.

"They are attacking me because I am the clear conservative alternative for the voters who are tired of drama and division. I will instead focus on delivering results like securing the border and getting our economy back on track."

In the Colorado GOP's endorsement announcement, they opened by taking aim at Flora, writing, "Deb Flora lied about participating in the CD4 Assembly process, & now she's boot licking fake journalists who only help Democrats. We don't need to elect dishonest, say-anything politicians like Deb Flora."

The state Republican party was referring to a recent X post from Flora, in which she defended local political reporter Sandra Fish who was kicked out of the state GOP assembly, saying the journalist's ejection was "wrong and a violation of the First Amendment."

Williams told Newsweek via email on Thursday night: "If Holtorf or Flora wish to stand against the near unanimous majority of convention delegates and President Trump, then they are definitely going to lose in June. The Party will never back down from supporting Lauren Boebert or President Trump."

Meanwhile, Boebert said she was "deeply honored" by the Colorado GOP's endorsement in a post on X on Monday.

"Know that I will keep my word and I'll never stop fighting for our conservative values!" she said. "There is nothing that would have kept me away from our Assembly and Convention - even if they had to haul me in on a stretcher! Let's go do major things for the Colorado GOP in 2024!"

Former President Donald Trump, the presumed 2024 GOP presidential candidate who endorsed Boebert's and Williams' campaigns for Congress, defended the Colorado GOP chairman in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday.

Trump said Williams "is under Fake News assault because he is doing such a strong job as an advocate for MAGA. Also, and very importantly, due to the efforts of Dave, and so many others, we are going to WIN COLORADO."

Update 4/12/24, 9:42 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Williams.