August 05, 2024 03:45 PM UTC

Former CO GOP Leader: Republican Infighting Is an 'Absolute Unadulterated Shit Show,' Risks Statehouse Races

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• by: Erik Maulbetsch

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Originally posted at the Colorado Times Recorder

After more than a decade of public service, Colorado Springs Republican Mark Waller has not been an elected official for over three years, and given his party’s current state of chaos, that suits him just fine. The former house minority leader served in the Statehouse and more recently as an El Paso County commissioner before leaving office in 2020 after losing a primary for District Attorney.

Last year, he launched a podcast, “We Have Issues,” with ad man Kyle Blakely, in which they “explore the pressing political and societal issues impacting Colorado and the nation.”

In their latest episode, the pair dig into the Colorado GOP leadership conflagration, which has grown from an internal dispute to a court battle, as Chairman Dave Williams and those seeking his removal trade legal jabs.

Waller shared his frustration at the possibility that party infighting could keep the party from taking advantage of what he sees as national Republican momentum to win state Senate seats.

“At a time when, momentum is really on the side of Republicans nationwide and should be in Colorado as well,” said Waller, “we have an opportunity — or should have an opportunity — to pick up two, maybe three seats in the state Senate, but because we are so focused on the infighting, I seriously question whether that’s going to be able to happen or not.”

Spreading out the blame, Waller also criticized Williams’ opponents for failing to organize their attempt to topple him.

“Okay we want to get rid of Dave,” said Waller. “You’d think everybody on the other side would be united in that effort, right? Nope! At last count, there are about five people that are vying to replace Dave before he’s even been removed! Five or six people that want to be the person that replaces him- so there’s not a lot of organization on that side either. Quite frankly, it’s hard to watch. It makes me glad I’m no longer a Republican elected official in the state of Colorado, because it is an absolute unadulterated shit-show.”