Republican Rift: The impact of election deniers on the GOP and where Colorado candidates stand

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- In politics, two years is a long time. For the Republican Party, however, it hasn't been long enough to put an end to election conspiracy theories.

According to a newly released Washington Post report, 53% of Republican candidates on the ballot for U.S. House, Senate, and key statewide offices have denied, or still deny, the outcome of the 2020 Presidential election.

That includes the delegation from Colorado. Republican representatives Lauren Boebert and Doug Lamborn were the two Colorado Republicans who voted against certifying the electoral college results in January of 2021. Republican Rep. Ken Buck was the lone Colorado conservative who voted to certify the results.

At the time, Lamborn told KRDO, "I have no doubts there are some massive irregularities going on." 

Since then, more than 63 lawsuits from multiple states alleging voter fraud have been thrown out, almost all of them due to a lack of evidence. 

KRDO has reached out to Lamborn's office and campaign eight times, hoping to interview the congressman on his current view. However, Lamborn never agreed to speak with KRDO.

Unlike Lamborn, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was willing to answer questions.

"I'm very proud to have taken that stand," Boebert said. "And I believe that there are things that we need to look into."

"I am proud to have stood with 146 of my colleagues to object to the certification of the electoral college results for the 2020 election."

Those views, though, aren't accepted by everyone in the party and are at the core of the split, where the divide reaches locally too.

"It is creating a schism within the party itself," Karl Schneider, the Vice Chair of the El Paso County Republican Party explained.

Schneider said he's worried about what election deniers are doing to the GOP, and how they could be pushing away unaffiliated voters.

"What it really does is turn off those undecided voters. What undecided voters want, what Republicans want, and what I want, is logical, sound thinking and following the procedures of law," Schneider said.

Statewide, a majority of election deniers didn't fare well in the primary elections in June. Notable election deniers, Tina Peters and Ron Hanks didn't advance. Still, Boebert and Lamborn cruised to landslide victories.

On Wednesday, Boebert's primary opponent, Republican Don Coram, endorsed her Democrat opponent, Adam Frisch.

Coram told KRDO he had entered the race because he was tired of Boebert's controversial and partisan stances. He believes election deniers are ruining the GOP.

"They could be the nail in the coffin for the Republican Party," Coram said.

KRDO asked Boebert why she believes she was one of the few election deniers to advance to the general election.

"I think your question is a little slanted, calling me an election denier," Boebert said. "It is the proper role of my office to actually look at the information that is coming to us."

The Washington Post projects that more than 50% of Republican election deniers are going to win their races this November, a figure that includes Lamborn and Boebert.

Not included in that figure though is Colorado gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl, who is a Trump supporter. 

When asked if she believes there was widespread election fraud in 2020, Ganahl said, "I believe Joe Biden is our president. I also believe that a better question is, 'why do so many people feel like he isn't?'"

Ganahl's choice for a running mate, Lt. Governor nominee Danny Moore, is one of those people.

In January 2021, Moore made a post on Facebook claiming that mail-in ballots cause voter fraud and that the democrats stole the presidential election.

"We were all really upset about that election, or a lot of us were, and kind of in disbelief that things could go that way," Ganahl said when asked about her running mate's opinion. "Many of us said things in the heat of the moment, and he clarified that right after that. The media just hasn't covered it."

While Moore and Ganahl say they believe the results are legitimate and former President Trump lost the election, Colorado Republican Senate candidate Joe O'Dea does too. In fact, he's taken it a step further.

"I don't think he should run, (in 2024)" O'Dea said. "I don't think Biden should run, I don't think Trump should run.

Despite concern from other Republicans, Boebert said she thinks the party is in great shape heading into November. Still, Republicans like Schneider and Coram, believe the party needs to move past 2020 and conspiracy theories if it hopes to win over undecided voters.

"It really lessens the impact of their position when they continue to follow and foment and perpetuate false narratives," Schneider said. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is any evidence that would change their minds.

When asked about a rift in the party, Colorado GOP chair Kristi Burton-Brown issued the following statement,

"There could not be more energy within our Party at the moment! Every day we talk with Republicans, Independents, Democrats, and Libertarians who are fed up with the failed policies promoted by the failed Democrat leadership in Denver and Washington D.C. The moms and dads I speak with are deeply concerned about record-high inflation, out-of-control crime, and our kids falling behind in schools. These are the issues our candidates have repeatedly spoken about, and these are the issues this election is about. In 28 days, Coloradans are going to vote to send new Republican leadership to Denver and Washington, and we’ll fight with the people to make things better for all Coloradans."

Colorado GOP Chair Kristi Burton-Brown