Jeff Crank wins GOP primary for Colorado Springs-based seat in Congress, beating state party chair

Conservative activist Jeff Crank won the Republican nomination for a Colorado Springs-based congressional seat over Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams Tuesday night.

Crank had 46,317 votes, or 67% of the total, to 22,387 votes for Williams, or 33%, in results posted to the Colorado secretary of state’s website as of 8:55 p.m. The Associated Press called the race for Crank at about 8:20 p.m. The candidates were competing for the nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in the 5th Congressional District in a bruising primary race that highlighted deepening rifts in the GOP.

In the Democratic primary, Joe Reagan was narrowly leading with 16,598 votes, or 50.5%, to 16,285 votes for River Gassen, or 49.5%. The result was too close to call.

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.

“We have a country to save from Joe Biden’s Open Border Crisis and the failure of Democrats’ economic policy,” Crank said in a statement after the race was called. “… We must unite as a party, elect President Trump, and fight for our country.”

Williams did not immediately return a request for comment after the race had been called.

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.”