Colorado Republicans are banking on a political newcomer this fall to steal a long-held Democratic congressional seat.

Landing a decisive victory Thursday night during a district assembly in Arvada, party delegates nominated former Army officer George Athanasopoulos as their candidate to challenge four-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District. Athanasopoulos ran away with the nomination, defeating opponent Bruce Baker 311 votes to 53.

The assembly also nominated national delegates from the district, which pledged their support to Ted Cruz at the Republican National Convention.

Reflecting on the nomination and his “grassroots” journey to the nomination, Athanasopoulos said, “It’s about doing the work before the work actually starts.”

The fight for the congressional district, which has been in Democratic hands for nearly a decade, isn’t his alone, Athanasopoulos said. There’s much at stake for the GOP in the congressional district.

“When I say we’re going to win, I don’t just mean Colorado Republicans, because if the Cruz campaign wants to put Ted in the White House, they’re going to have to invest in the 7th Congressional District, same for Donald Trump,” Athanasopoulos said. “I’m not going to defeat Ed Perlmutter by myself. I’m going to have the national campaigns, the U.S. Senate campaign, I’m going to have the entire Republican establishment brought to bear on this district.”

Though he pledged his support to Athanasopoulos come November, Baker said the district — made up of western and northern Denver suburbs — has a majority Democratic voting constituency, which poses a significant challenge for the party’s candidate. He said he would have been able to reach pro-choice voters, offering voters a choice in the general election.

“It was a clear choice that was given to the people, and the people here liked George better,” said Baker, a current Westminster City Council member, of his defeat. “It was about the red-meat issues of the Republican party, but how well it will play in the general election, I have grave doubts.”

The adverse view of Democrats and independents does a disservice to the party and constituents, which the GOP shouldn’t beat, but rather persuade, Baker indicated.

One of the hundreds of delegates to vote, Kaarl Hoopes, who also ran for national delegate, voted for Athanasopoulos because he represents what he labeled a true constitutional conservative. He said he knows Bruce Baker and believes his views align more with a libertarian, and he wants to support a “full-spectrum” conservative.

“What we need is to protect our platform,” he said. “Our platform stands for life of unborn babies, our platform stands for traditional marriage, it stands for a balanced budget and for gun rights. George best matches those stances for me.”

Delegate Nathan Hatcher voted in favor of Baker, citing what he said was an unfair process leading to the assembly. He said Baker also provided a choice for voters outside of just rubber stamping the party’s favored candidate.

“One of my main issues when voting is that we be fiscally responsible,” Hatcher added of his vote for Baker. “Protect my money and my taxes.”

Perlmutter will face a Democratic primary challenge from vocal Bernie Sanders supporter and retired Army Capt. Shawn Carlson. Libertarian Martin Buchanan will also appear on the ballot this November as a third-party candidate.