Colorado GOP leader under pressure to resign after pride flag statement
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Dave Williams speaks outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8. Photo: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Colorado GOP leader Dave Williams' call to "burn all pride flags" is leading to renewed demands for him to resign.
Why it matters: The backlash against the chairman and congressional candidate is the most concerted effort yet to oust him after months of controversial rhetoric, questionable spending and demands for his resignation.
The latest: Jefferson County Republican chairwoman Nancy Pallozzi has gathered enough support to call a special meeting of the party's governing board and take a vote of confidence on his leadership. At least 60% of the party's central committee would need to support a vote to remove Williams from his post.
- "This last email — that was it, we're done," Pallozzi told Colorado Politics. "It was disgusting. I don't encourage burning the Pride flag. It was a message that should not have been sent out by the Republican Party."
The intrigue: Two Republican candidates have rejected the party's endorsement and Aurora Council Member Curtis Gardner left the party and registered as an unaffiliated voter citing the "hateful" message.
The other side: Williams is defiant. "We make no apologies for saying God hates Pride or pride flags as it's an agenda that harms children and undermines parental authority, and the only backlash we see is coming from radical Democrats, the fake news media, and weak Republicans who bow down at the feet of leftist cancel culture," he told Denver7 in a statement.
Catch up quick: In his 14 months on the job, Williams has repeatedly drawn scrutiny for embracing the tactics of Donald Trump as he looks to remake the party and purge conservatives who don't support the former president.
- The latest controversy came in an email sent by the Colorado GOP and signed by Williams that referred to LGBTQ people as "godless groomers" who want to "harm our children." On social media, the party also called for the burning of pride flags.
- His recent decision to endorse candidates in party primaries, as well as his move to eject a reporter from the GOP assembly in April likewise led to calls for his resignation.
- He also drew ire from GOP leaders for using party money and resources to promote his own candidacy for Congress.
What's next: It remains unclear when party leaders will meet and whether they have enough support to remove Williams.
- "We're still in the talking about the game plan phase," Boulder County GOP Chairwoman Tara Menza told Colorado Politics. "My problem right now is we don't have a successor identified. You can't just call on people to resign."