This article was first published in the Colorado Times Recorder.
Colorado Springs Congressman Jeff Crank is now the third Republican member of Colorado’s delegation to throw his support behind his party’s controversial gubernatorial nominee, Victor Marx. In a tacit acknowledgement of Marx’s divisive status as the GOP’s nominee for governor, his campaign held a unity rally yesterday, featuring in-person and video endorsements from several other Republicans, most prominent among them being Crank.
In a brief phone video recorded at Denver International Airport, Crank apologized for his absence, explaining that he was headed back to Washington, D.C. to vote, before saying that Republicans have to “stick together.”
“Hey, it’s Congressman Jeff Crank. I’m sorry I can’t be with you. I’m headed out to Washington, D.C. for votes tomorrow. So, have to be on a plane tonight, but I wanted to just say how important it is for all of us as Republicans to fight for Colorado. We have to stick together and fight hard to take this state back that we all love.”
Crank joins his Colorado GOP colleagues U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans in supporting Marx, which leaves only Jeff Hurd silent on the Republican atop voters’ November ballot.
Marx’s narrow victory in the GOP primary featured several eye-raising statements, from his claim to have killed a man at age seven, to refusing to say how many people he’s killed as an adult, to supposedly calling in an U.S. military air strike as a civilian. Both of his primary opponents, state Rep. Scott Bottoms (R-CO Springs) and state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer (R-Weld) have refused to endorse him for governor.
Shortly following publication, a spokesperson for Crank provided the following statement:
“Congressman Crank was unable to participate due to prior commitments but sent a video to support Republicans’ opportunity to make gains after years of Democrat control in Denver that has caused crime and the cost of living to skyrocket in Colorado.”
Marx spokesperson Rachael Flick also responded via email following publication. “We are so grateful to be in alignment with Congressman Crank,” says Flick. “We can both see how important it is to work as a unified team for GOP success in the general [election].”
Another notable rally speaker was Craig Steiner, the newly elected chairman of the Colorado GOP.
I would ask you to help get the House district candidates that you saw here tonight,” said Steiner. “Let’s get them elected. Let’s try to flip the house. The Senate District candidates, they need our help, too. And all of our statewides- Attorney General, Secretary of State… Treasurer… we need to get them all elected and we need to get Victor Marks elected as governor of Colorado! The Republican party is united behind our entire ticket. Let’s get the job done. November is less than four months away.”
Crank wasn’t the only congressional candidate at the rally, just the only incumbent. Retired Army Lt. Colonel and Lewis-Palmer School Board member Tim Bennett, who is challenging Congresswoman Brittany Petersen (D-Lakewood) in the Seventh Congressional District, opened the evening. other Republicans who participated in the rally included several statehouse candidates, Clinton Porter (HD40), Kris Johnson (HD24), and Teddy Collins (SD4). Former American Constitutional Party gubernatorial candidate Danielle Neuschwanger also spoke in support of Marx.
