Colorado Republicans elect software engineer Craig Steiner to fill vacant state chairman position
Steiner says he will focus on rebuilding and unifying a divided Republican Party.
BUENA VISTA, Colo. — The Colorado Republican Party on Saturday elected Craig Steiner to fill the party’s vacant state chair position at a state central committee meeting in Buena Vista, just over a week before primary ballots go out to voters and five months before the general election.
The former Douglas County GOP chair takes over from Eric Grossman, the state party vice chair, who has helmed the party for the last six weeks following embattled former state chair Brita Horn’s resignation, which took effect in April.
It took two rounds of balloting for Steiner to emerge with a majority in a crowded field that also included El Paso County Republican Jeremy Goodall, podcaster and former gubernatorial candidate Joe Oltmann, and Douglas County business owner Curtis McCrackin, who made an unsuccessful run for Congress two years ago. Two other candidates withdrew from the contest before the vote.
After none of the candidates cleared 50% in the first round, McCrackin, who finished in last place, withdrew and threw his support behind Steiner. In the final round, Steiner led with 54%, followed by Goodall at 28% and Oltmann at 17%, plus a handful of votes for McCrackin.
