Colorado Springs GOP candidate cannot include ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ as nickname on ballot
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- Representative Dave Williams, a Republican from Colorado Springs, won't be able to have his name listed as "Dave "Let's Go Brandon" Williams" on the June primary ballot.
A judge ruled Wednesday that Secretary of State Jena Griswold has the authority to block that name request. Williams filed an appeal of that decision with the Colorado Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear his appeal.
When the ballots are printed, Williams will have the top line, as he gained the most votes at the state GOP assembly. But he won't be able to use what Griswold has deemed a slogan, by his name.
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. Since then, "Let's Go Brandon" has become a right-wing code for something cruder, according to ABC News.
Williams, however, denies this.
"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. Williams claims he wanted that phrase included in his name on the ballot to separate himself from other candidates.
"My name is fairly common," Williams said. "So it was a way not only to stand out but also identify who I am and what I represent."
Williams issued the following statement to KRDO after the judge's decision Friday:
“In a time when the credibility of the judiciary is in question because of the scandals it’s embroiled in, you’d think the Colorado Supreme Court would want to at least justify their salaries the taxpayers provide them by actually doing their jobs. They are derelict in their duty and it’s clear they want to help their fellow Democrats in violating the rule of law.”
State Rep. Dave Williams
In the Republican Primary, Williams is running against incumbent Doug Lamborn, Rebecca Keltie, and Andrew Heaton for the U.S. Congressional seat in Colorado District 5. Lamborn currently holds that position.
After Wednesday's initial ruling, Griswold said, "The court's decision today affirms that the content of the ballot is not a place for political gamesmanship."
Williams maintains the move is not a publicity stunt.
