February 28, 2025 02:51 PM UTC

Williams Bows Out, Saine Joins Race To Lead Colorado’s Republican Party

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Saine is in — Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Originally posted at the Colorado Times Recorder

Former Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine plunged into the race to be the next leader of the Colorado Republican Party last night, saying that “America-First policies” will put Republicans back in power here.

“I’m Lori Saine and I am running for the Colorado Republican GOP chair to bring a renewed sense of professionalism with a bold, conservative vision to the Colorado GOP,” said Saine in a statement. “Our state’s competitive seats demanded clear, America-First policies that put seats back into Republican hands.

“I’m committed to aggressively supporting the industries that make Colorado exceptional — from our robust energy sector and thriving farming and ranching communities to our vibrant tourism — and I will fight tirelessly to secure public safety for our communities. I believe in smart, results-driven leadership, assembling the right people at every level to drive our mission forward. With a proven record of defending conservative values, I’m ready to lead our party forward to success.”

Saine will face Darcy Schoening, the former co-chair of the El Paso County Moms for Liberty chapter and the Colorado Republican Party’s director of special initiatives. Also in the race is Brita Horn, a former Routt County treasurer.

Incumbent Dave Williams announced today that he won’t seek another term.

“After much prayerful consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection as Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party,” stated Williams in an email to Republicans. “While the grassroots majority of our Party — those who have aligned with our leadership and the bold agenda we advanced over the past two years — would support our continued leadership into the next election cycle, I have chosen to move in a different direction and be effective for the movement in a new capacity.”

Saine and Schoening both appear to be more aligned with the Trump wing of the party than Horn, meaning the entrance of Saine in the three-way race could benefit Horn.

Reached for comment, Schoening offered the following statement:

“I welcome Lori Saine to the race and appreciate her contributions to the conservative movement in Colorado, said Schoening. “She played an important role in the legislature, and her vote was consistently conservative. I have great respect for her and other former lawmakers who have served our state.

“When I announced my candidacy in early January, I did so for one reason: to get the GOP back to its winning ways in Colorado. Simply having a voice is not enough—we need doers, not just talkers. Unfortunately, Ms. Saine has not been actively engaged in advancing the Republican Party and has never demonstrated the level of diligence, fundraising ability, or grassroots engagement that this critical moment requires.

“I am the only candidate for GOP Chair who can unequivocally say I stood up for our kids during the COVID madness, fought back against the radical Left, and pushed back against Joe Biden’s attacks on girls and women through his extreme gender ideology agenda. I’ve also worked behind the scenes to support all of our GOP candidates, ensuring they received the respect and resources they deserved in the general election.

“Lori Saine is a valued member of our party, and I appreciate her contributions. But she is not a leader and not a doer. The Colorado GOP cannot afford to elect someone who has been absent from the fight.”

Saine announced her candidacy at multiple venues last night, including on Sherronna Bishop’s Patriot Call on Facebook, where the Colorado Republican Party Vice Chair Hope Scheppelman wrote, “Congratulations, Lori Saine!” in the comments. (Listen here at 27 minutes.)

Widely seen as among the most hard right conservative politicians in Colorado, Saine has been one of Colorado’s most loyal Trump supporters, joining a minority of Republican legislators who signed a letter backing Trump early in 2016. She backed Trump in 2020, and was a Trump delegate last year at the Republican National Convention.

Saine ran for a northern Colorado congressional seat in 2022, accessing the GOP primary ballot with an overwhelming win at the district assembly. She went on to lose a multi-candidate primary to state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, who then lost the general election to Democrat Yadira Caraveo. During the primary, Saine said she’d censure U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) for joining Democrats on the committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. She also said Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

Saine backed former state Rep. Janak Joshi in his losing primary bid to take on Caraveo in November’s election, which was won by Republican Gabe Evans.

Erik Maulbetsch contributed to this report.

UPDATED 2/28/25 with a quote from Williams’ email.