Colorado Springs lawmaker appealing ruling denying ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ as nickname on primary ballot
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO)-- State Representative Dave Williams, a Republican from Colorado Springs, is running for Doug Lamborn's U.S. Congress Seat in Colorado District 5.
When the ballots are printed, Williams is demanding that his name appears on the top line as "Dave 'Let's Go Brandon' Williams."
A judge ruled Wednesday that Secretary of State Jena Griswold has the authority to block that name request.
Now, Williams is appealing the court decision, just two days before those ballots are set to be printed.
The term "Let's Go Brandon" started six months ago following a NASCAR race win by driver Brandon Brown.
During a post-race interview, Brown was being interviewed on live television, as the crowd chanted a vulgar phrase aimed at President Joe Biden.
The reporter either misheard or tried to cover for what the crowd was really saying, and now "Let's Go Brandon" has become right-wing code for something cruder.
"While the media may continue to push that it means "F Joe Biden, that's not what it means," Williams told KRDO Wednesday. "The reason people started saying "Let's Go Brandon" was because it was a way to mock the media. People in your profession that are falsely trying to push a narrative that just isn't there."
Nicknames that people regularly go by are allowed on the ballot, but slogans are not.
"My name is fairly common," Williams added. "So it was a way not only to stand out, but also identify who I am and what I represent."
Denver District Court Judge Andrew McCallin said the decision is ultimately up to Griswold, in her capacity as secretary of state.
"The judge went ahead and just kind of picked this authority out of thin air and didn't base it on anything really substantial in Colorado law," Williams said of the ruling.
In the Republican Primary, Williams is running against incumbent Doug Lamborn, Rebecca Keltie, and Andrew Heaton.
Following the decision, Griswold issued a statement saying in part, "The court's decision today affirms that the content of the ballot is not a place for political gamesmanship."
Williams, though, denies the moves are a publicity stunt.
"It has to do with the fact that the secretary of state is breaking the law. Just because one district court may disagree on the application of that law doesn't mean we give up the fight."
The state Supreme Court has not agreed to review the appeal, and there is no guarantee justices could form an opinion prior to the Friday printing deadline.
