Recap of Congressional District 5 Primary Debate

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — FOX21 is your local election headquarters and on Thursday, June 6, Republican candidates for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, Jeff Crank and Dave Williams faced off during a debate as they look to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Doug Lamborn.

“It’s high time that we fight back against these people and start doing what the Lord would have us do,” Williams said.

“I am going to fight the woke nonsense that goes on in our schools,” Crank said.

The two started off the night addressing a recent call from the Colorado GOP for LGBTQ pride flags to be burned. Williams, the current Chair of the State GOP signed off on the message and is not apologizing.

“I do not care what some pride organizers think about what we’re doing,” Williams explained. “What I care about is protecting our children. What I care about is advancing biblical principles, and what I care about is what the Lord has to say. If that costs me this election, if that costs me everything so be it.”

“When it comes to a flag, let me say one thing, there’s one flag that belongs in a school and that’s the American flag,” Crank said.

Crank then took the offensive against Williams, attacking his voting record in the State Senate on fentanyl.

“Dave, when you were in the legislature, you voted against HB22-1326 ,” Crank explained. “The bill increased penalties for fentanyl dealers and it would have moved possession of fentanyl from a misdemeanor to a felony when you had the chance to increase penalties on fentanyl dealers. You failed to do that.”

“First and foremost, this is an immigration problem,” Williams explained. “We need to secure the border, we need to increase law enforcement on the southern border, even put military troops down there.”

Crank also criticized Williams’ current job as the head of the State GOP.

“Dave, what you don’t understand about the role of the chairman of the Republican party is to fight and win seats in every single district, and that’s your job,” Crank explained. “It’s not to say the craziest thing so that you can raise some money so that you can take that money, slide it over to your campaign, and do hit pieces on people.”

“That’s the problem that I’m trying to express to everyone here is that (Crank) is endorsed by establishment politicians who are going to roll him over and split him out so that you ultimately don’t get the kind of service or representation that you will with me,” Williams said.

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