Colorado rejects GOP's pick for House seat, cites state law

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Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include a comment from El Paso County Republicans.

(The Center Square) – A Republican vacancy committee’s nomination to fill the seat for Colorado House District 14 has been rejected after the Colorado secretary of state found the committee didn’t comply with state law.

The committee’s pick came after Republican House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, who represented Colorado Springs in El Paso County, resigned Sept. 15.

The vacancy committee, which involved El Paso County Republicans, notified its members the day Pugliese resigned, then met to select a nomination on Sept. 22.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, that timeline violated state law, which requires a vacancy committee to mail out a notice of meeting a minimum of 10 days prior.

“Because this nominating process did not follow timelines established in statute, the paperwork has been deemed insufficient,” the office said  Monday. “The pertinent vacancy committee may resubmit nominating paperwork after following the proper procedures laid out in Colorado law.”

Ken Davis, chairman of the El Paso County Republicans, Wednesday told The Center Square, "We intend to adhere to the SOS's decision and will hold a new election on 10/11/25.”

The vacancy committee’s nominee, Ava Flanell, a Second Amendment advocate and talk radio host, said in a post on social media: “Unfortunately, we celebrated too soon …”

“This is disappointing, but mistakes happen,” she said. “I'm ready to go through the vacancy process again and continue to present my vision of a Republican Party that bands together to fight the left, rather than each other.”

“To the vacancy committee members: I would be honored to have your support,” she added. “I know there are things you would rather do instead of attend a vacancy committee meeting, let alone for the second time. I will strive to be a representative who makes you proud to have taken the time to participate.”