A state lawmaker in Colorado looking to take a step up to federal government has entered into a legal battle over how he’s to be listed on the state’s upcoming Republican primary ballot.
Colorado state law allows for the inclusion of a candidate’s nickname, and Dave Williams says his nickname is “Let’s Go Brandon.”
Yet so far, his request to be listed as Dave “Let’s Go Brandon” Williams has been rejected due to Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s ruling that the phrase is not a nickname but rather a slogan, which is prohibited.
“State law is fairly clear,” Williams told The Washington Times. “There are only two requirements: that the nickname be used regularly and that it not include the name of a political party.”
“Let’s go, Brandon,” of course, became a popular thinly-veiled insult towards President Joe Biden last year after an expletive-laden chant – “F--- Joe Biden” – during a live NBC NASCAR broadcast was misheard by a reporter as support for the race’s winner Brandon Brown.
Williams claims he has been consistent in his use of the “nickname” since embarking on his effort to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Doug Lamborn, including it as part of his name on social media accounts and when making public appearances at rallies and for radio and podcast interviews.
“The other thing I would point out is that state law does not grant the power or the authority to the Secretary of State to determine what is acceptable and not acceptable,” Williams said.
His suit also calls Griswold’s decision “inconsistent with her former guidance,” noting that a candidate for Thompson School Board last year was allowed to be listed as Blake “No Mandates” Law.
With ballot certification set for April 29, a decision from the courts is expected soon.
Lamborn has held the Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District seat since 2007 and won his most recent re-election bid in 2020 with 58% of the vote.
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