This weekend, most of the major Republican candidates for federal and statewide office will join a half-dozen election deniers, including Tina Peters, at a right-wing festival in Douglas County.
The former Mesa County clerk and convicted felon Tina Peters, who will be making her first major public appearance since Gov. Jared Polis commuted her prison sentence, is billed as an “election integrity champion.” In addition to Peters, attendees will hear from election fraud conspiracy promoters Seth Keshel, Lara Logan, Mark Cook, and the event’s host herself, Heidi Ganahl, all of whom claim that the 2020 presidential election (and other races since then) were rigged against Republicans.
In addition to this band of professional conspiracists, numerous Republicans will also participate, according to talk radio host Jeff Hunt, who is promoting the event repeatedly on his morning KNUS show.
As previously reported by the Colorado Times Recorder, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is highest-level public official participating, but much of the state’s Republican congressional delegation will also attend the event.
The list includes U.S. Reps. Jeff Crank, Gabe Evans, and Lauren Boebert, who is the most vocal election denier among her party’s congressional caucus, despite herself having first won her seat in 2020. In Hunt’s most recent on-air promotion, he left Evans off the list of participating congresspeople, but it wasn’t clear whether he was simply naming a selection of speakers or if Evans has withdrawn. CTR has reached out to both Hunt and Evans for clarification.
CTR also reached out to Congressman Jeff Hurd (R-CO) to ask if he will be attending but did not receive a response. GOP gubernatorial candidates Victor Marx and Barb Kirkmeyer are also confirmed, according to Hunt’s on-air proclamations. Via email, a spokesperson for state Rep. Scott Bottoms (R-CO Springs), another GOP gubernatorial candidate, says the campaign is still trying to sort out a scheduling conflict.
According to his campaign calendar, James Wiley, the former Libertarian Party leader who is now unopposed as the GOP Secretary of State nominee and also a vocal election denier, will also be in attendance.
At least two current district attorneys are also participating: both George Brauchler, who represents the 23rd Judicial District (Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties) and Michael Allen, who oversees El Paso and Teller Counties, are speaking at the Friday evening “Back the Blue” event.
Both will speak in advance of the evening’s headliner: former reality TV star Duane Chapman, AKA Dog the Bounty Hunter, who was convicted of first-degree felony murder in 1976. Allen is also running to be the GOP nominee for Attorney General. Given that their Republican colleague, District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, prosecuted Peters, the Colorado Times Recorder asked both DAs if they have any concerns speaking at the same event as the felonious election-denier.
Via email Brauchler offered the following statement:
“In my home county of Douglas, at a specific pro-law enforcement event billed as a ‘Back the Blue Bash: A Night of Music, Freedom and Support for Law Enforcement,’ I have been asked to participate as a special guest with my friend and colleague, the District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District,’ wrote Brauchler. “As always, I am honored to stand up for—and with—those first responders who keep us safe. I am unaware and dubious of the claimed involvement of any other person(s) at this law enforcement event on the evening of June 26th to ‘recognize the sacrifice, dedication, and courage of those who stand on the front lines to keep our families safe,’ as their promotion materials state.”
CTR reached out to Douglas County Clerk Sheri Davis to ask if she has any concerns about her county’s top law enforcement officer participating in this event. Through a spokesperson Davis, who is also a Republican, declined to comment on the event, but noted that her role is “to conduct elections with the utmost integrity, and maintaining election security protocols according to the law is her top priority.”
Allen’s office did not respond to a request for comment. This article will be updated with any response received. Via email, El Paso County Clerk Steve Schleiker praised Allen’s “commitment to election integrity and ensuring that allegations of election-related misconduct are appropriately investigated.” In response to CTR’s inquiry about the partnership between the two agencies, Schleiker cited “our joint efforts resulted in the successful investigation and prosecution of two out-of-state petition circulators who submitted fraudulent signatures in El Paso County.”
As to Allen’s appearance at Freedom Fest, Schleiker continued, “I am also aware that Rocky Mountain Voice’s Freedom Fest includes a segment supporting law enforcement, commonly referred to as the “Back the Blue Bash.” My understanding is that District Attorney Allen’s participation is related to that event, along with District Attorney George Brauchler. While individuals may hold differing views regarding particular organizations or events, I can speak directly to my experience working with District Attorney Allen. He has consistently supported the rule of law, election integrity, and the prosecution of election-related crimes when supported by the facts and evidence.”
Colorado Clerks Association President Matt Crane offered his own thoughts on the participation of Allen and Brauchler, generally echoing Schleiker’s praise of both prosecutors:
“Speaking only for myself and not the association, I have a great deal of respect for both Michael Allen and George Brauchler. They are serious public servants who have consistently demonstrated integrity and a commitment to the rule of law.
“My concern is not with them. My concern is with event organizers who continue to provide a platform to individuals whose careers are built on spreading false claims about American elections.
“For years, people such as Tina Peters, Seth Keshel, Mark Cook, Lara Logan, and others have promoted narratives that have repeatedly failed to withstand scrutiny, audits, investigations, or court review. Those claims have damaged public trust, fueled threats and harassment against election officials, and, in my view, become a cancer on the Republican Party.
“What I find particularly frustrating is that many of these individuals claim to be helping conservatives and strengthening election integrity. In reality, they have done the opposite. They have convinced countless Republican voters that elections cannot be trusted, that votes do not matter, and that every loss must be the result of fraud. That is not a winning political strategy, nor is it a responsible approach to election reform.
“I respect Michael and George a great deal, but I do think it is fair to question why organizers continue to elevate individuals who have done so much damage to public confidence in elections and, frankly, to the Republican Party itself.”
In a subsequent phone conversation, Crane said that both elected officials, as well as the other GOP legislators and candidates, are in a “no-win situation,” given the prevalence of election deniers within the Colorado Republican Party, which he described as being “in a battle for its soul.”
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