December 12, 2023 10:16 AM UTC

Nikki Haley Pays To Be Slammed By Colorado Republicans

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Colorado Republican Party has earned a reputation over the past year for intraparty intrigue and backstabbing beyond anything that would have been tolerated in previous years, relentlessly pushing the boundaries of meddling in their own primaries and attempting to weaponize the Libertarian Party to threaten insufficiently conservative Republican candidates. Last week, a motion was circulated with the GOP central committee to formally endorse Donald Trump and call for the other GOP presidential primary candidates to pull out of the race.

Contemporaneously, the state party’s official Twitter account continued with their usual editorializing on the Republican candidates, joining in the bashing of Nikki Haley after Haley appeared to express something like a reasonable view on trans kids and parent’s rights:

And here’s where it gets sticky. Cash-strapped Colorado Republicans led by tempestuous chairman Dave “Let’s Go Brandon” Williams have returned to the practice of charging hefty fees to presidential candidates seeking access to the 2024 presidential primary ballot–$20,000 or 40,000 depending on whether the candidate promises to visit the state before Super Tuesday. Candidates are also reportedly required to announce their filing with a link back to the Colorado GOP. For presidential candidates who have found themselves on the wrong side of Dave Williams’ wrath, this is creating the unusual situation of being forced to promote a social media account that disparages their candidate. It’s either that, or no spot on the ballot for you Nikki Haley!

That’s right, folks, Nikki Haley says give Colorado Republicans a follow! Just don’t, you know, scroll down.

In the event Colorado Republicans pass their resolution endorsing Trump and calling for Haley and the rest of the primary pack to call it a race, we have to wonder whether the presidential also-rans who are paying Williams tens of thousands of dollars to appear on Colorado’s ballot will get their money back. If the Colorado GOP has the check in hand from any of them, they’ve most likely cashed and spent it several times over.

Either way, the Colorado GOP’s backstabbery is forever. Candidates are paying for the privilege.