Colorado Republicans show no sign of stopping their attacks against last year’s election results, both in Colorado and nationwide — even though claims that the 2020 election was rigged in favor of the Democrats have been debunked.
In Colorado, only a handful of Republican public figures have spoken out against this rhetoric.
Below is a guide on where Colorado Republicans stand on the 2020 election: whether they repeat the Big Lie, or stand against it–and whether they think Colorado’s own elections were fair.
Editor’s Note: This list will be updated. Please send additional information, omissions or corrections, to us.
CO Members of Congress Who Have Said the Prez Election Was Rigged:
- U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. (Said in December that “the American people deserve secure and fair elections. Unfortunately, the 2020 election was neither of those things.” Openly embraces election fraud conspiracy theories)
- U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn. (Backed a Texas lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election; refused to certify electoral votes on Jan. 6, saying that “The serious irregularities and improprieties marring the 2020 general election threaten America’s confidence in our electoral system.”)
CO Members of Congress Who Have Gone Back and Forth on Whether the Prez Election Was Stolen:
- U.S. Rep. Ken Buck. (Acknowledged Biden’s victory, but also backed the Texas lawsuit)
CO State Legislators Who Have Said the Prez Election Was Rigged:
- State Rep. Ron Hanks (R-Canon City). (Says “Evidence” proves Biden was “not fairly elected” at 1:20 in video)
- State Rep. Dave Williams (R-Colorado Springs). (Promoted “Standing For Trump” petition, alleging widespread voter fraud and “deep state” interference)
- State Rep. Kevin Van Winkle (R-Highland Ranch). (Also promoted “Standing for Trump” petition)
CO State Legislators Who’ve Said the 2020 Prez Election Was Fair:
- State Sen. Kevin Priola (R-Henderson). (Says, “I’ve honestly been horrified by the accusations of a stolen election. It’s intended to destabilize our systems.”)
- State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-Weld County). (See below and here.)
CO GOP Candidates Who Have Said the Prez Election Was Rigged:
- U.S. Senate Candidate Erik Aadland. (Says the 2020 election was “Absolutely rigged“)
- U.S. Senate Candidate Ron Hanks. (Says “Evidence” proves Biden was “not fairly elected” at 1:20 in video)
- Colorado Secretary of State Candidate Tina Peters.
CO GOP Candidates Who Raise Doubts About the 2020 National and CO Elections But Don’t Say If They Were Stolen or Legitimate:
- U.S. Senate Candidate Gino Campana. (Says Biden won, but says that “mistakes were made and dead people voted.”)
- U.S. Senate Candidate Deborah Flora. (Says that “[election integrity] is a state issue and I support what Arizona is doing. I support what other states are doing.”)
- U.S. Congressional District 8 Candidate Lori Saine. (Convened Legislative Audit Committee Election Integrity Hearing to investigate potential fraud despite no evidence.)
- U..S. Congressional District 8 Candidate Jan Kulmann. (Repeatedly, says a version of, “I think Biden is the president,” but won’t say if he won due to fraud.
- U.S. Congressional District 8 Candidate Tyler Allcorn. (Says he’d “do away with mail-in ballots,” and Biden is the president, but won’t say if he won due to fraud.)
- U.S. Congressional District 8 Candidate Jewels Gray. (Says we need to “end voting machines,” but hasn’t said directly whether the 2020 election was legitimate.)
GOP Candidates Who Say Colorado’s Election Was Fair But Raises Questions Over Validity of Prez Election:
- U.S. Senate Candidate Eli Bremer. (Says he “[believes] that in Colorado the results that were reported are correct,” but also says, “In looking at the data nationally, I think it’s very clear that this was a very abnormal election. Looking at the election results there were a lot of anomalies, and that’s just a mathematical fact.”
- CO Governor Candidate Heidi Ganahl. (Says she has “not seen any evidence that the presidential election outcome in our state was changed by fraud,” but she baselessly cites concerns about voting rules being “weakened” in “some states” prior to the 2020 election without going so far as to say Biden stole the election. She also states, “Joe Biden’s our president,” without saying whether she thinks he won due to fraud.
GOP Candidates Who Say Colorado’s Election Was Fair But Won’t Offer an Opinion on the National Election:
- CO Governor Candidate Greg Lopez. (Says, “I can’t speak for other states.” But believes Colorado’s results were verifiable.
GOP Candidates Who Think the 2020 Election Was Fair in Colorado and Nationally:
- CO Secretary of State Candidate Pam Anderson. (Says that CO’s elections “are safe and secure”, and that “President Biden is not in office because of voter fraud and I’m unequivocal about that”)
- Congressional Candidate Barbara Kirkmeyer. (Says the 2020 election was “legitimate.” Also see here.)
Notable CO Republicans Who’ve Taken a Public Stand on the 2020 Election in CO or Nationally:
Promoting election fraud conspiracy
- CO Republican Party Leader Kristi Burton Brown. (Supported calls for “forensic audits” of JeffCo and Boulder County results and said GOP should “go on the attack” against Dominion Voting Systems, but won’t say whether 2020 presidential election was rigged)
- Randy Corporon, CO Republican National Committeeman. (Claimed on Mike Lindell’s TV show that there was evidence of “tremendous amounts of fraud” and that he believed Arizona would decertify its election results)
- Former CO Secretary of State Scott Gessler. (Says election “probably stolen” from Trump; helped Trump to contest election results in court by serving as “testifying expert“)
- Joe Oltmann, founder of FEC United (Originated conspiracy theories around Dominion Voting)
- Rob Natelson, Director, Independence Institute’s Constitutional Studies Center, has “no idea” if the prez election was stolen.
- Mesa County, Colorado, Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters. (Claims serious election fraud in CO)
- Former CO Republican Chair Candidate Casper Stockham. (Says “The election was stolen nationwide. And I believe we had major problems here in Colorado.” but “does not have any proof“)
- Parker Mayor Jeff Toborg. (Promoted election fraud conspiracies)
Rejecting election fraud conspiracy
- George Brauchler, former GOP candidate for Governor. (Says that, although he voted for Trump and is “disappointed” he lost, election fraud conspiracy theories are “dangerous for our democracy.”)
- Fremont County Clerk and Recorder Justin Grantham. (Wrote letter to state Rep. Hanks decrying election misinformation. Worked to convince Fremont GOP election fraud believer that local elections are secure.
- Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. (Says 2020 presidential election was as fair as the one in 2016, and he has confidence in the “vote-counting process” across Colorado.
- Dick Wadhams, former CO Republican party chair. (Thinks Republicans won’t be “credible in a general election” unless they deny election conspiracy.)
RELATED: Three of Colorado Republicans’ 2021 Awardees Are Election Fraud Conspiracists
NOTE: No prominent Colorado Democrat has questioned the 2020 election results in Colorado or nationally.
UPDATE: 11/16/21 Sheriff Justin Smith added. 12/9/21 Greg Lopez added. 12/13/21 Eli Bremer updated.
CORRECTION: The article initially stated that Cindy Ficklin was running for a different House district.
