CO-05: State GOP chair Dave Williams on Monday became the first major candidate to announce a campaign to replace retiring Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn. Williams, an election conspiracy theorist and former state representative who lost the 2022 primary to Lamborn 47-33, sent out his launch email through the party's official email account and says he plans to keep his position as chair despite his bid.
Williams, though, will almost certainly have competition in the June 25 primary for this 53-43 Trump seat. Karl Schneider, who is an executive at what Colorado Politics' Ernest Luning describes as a "defense industry cybersecurity" company, said Friday he was forming an exploratory committee. Schneider is also a former vice chair in the state GOP.
Several more Republicans tell Luning or 9News' Marshall Zelinger that they're considering:
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2022 Senate candidate Eli Bremer
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Conservative radio host Jeff Crank
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State Sen. Bob Gardner
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State Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen
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Former Lamborn aide Cassandra Sebastian
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El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf
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Former El Paso County Commissioner Mark Waller
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Former Secretary of State Wayne Williams
Crank, who lost to Lamborn in 2006 and 2008, said Friday he would make up his mind in the following "eight to 10 days," while Luning writes that Sebastian "said she planned to decide soon." Waller, meanwhile, indicated he'd defer to Crank or Gardner.
Wayne Williams, for his part, is not related to Dave Williams, the former secretary of state who lost last year's nonpartisan race for mayor of Colorado Springs in a wide 57-43 upset against Yemi Mobolade, an independent.
Both Luning and Zelinger also mention many more Republicans as possibilities:
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Former state Rep. Terri Carver
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Former state Rep. Tim Geitner
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El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner
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2018 candidate Darryl Glenn
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El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez
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Former state Rep. Dan Nordberg
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Assistant House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese
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El Paso County Republican Party Chair Vickie Tonkins
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El Paso County Republican Party Vice Chair Todd Watkins
A few Republicans quickly said they wouldn't run, however, including former Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, former state Sen. Dennis Hisey, and state Rep. Don Wilson. A spokesperson for Rep. Lauren Boebert, who decided last month to give up the 3rd District to seek the 4th, also confirmed she wouldn't jump into the 5th.