Five Democratic clerk and recorders are crossing the aisle to endorse Republican Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Jena Griswold.

In addition, several current and former elected officials and a prominent election activist are part of a coalition of Democratic supporters unveiled by the Republican’s campaign.

“I am the only candidate for secretary of state who understands that there is nothing partisan about running clean elections and making it easy for Coloradans to start new businesses,” Williams said in a statement. “While other candidates for the office might aim to turn the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office into a hyper-partisan office that only seeks to serve one political party or agenda, I understand the necessity to serve all Coloradans fairly and equally.”

Griswold dismissed the endorsements in a statement to Colorado Politics, calling Williams a “deeply conservative career politician” trying to distract voters from his record by “touting support from a few Democrats.”

In an unusual development in an exceptionally partisan year, Williams has won endorsements from more Democratic clerks than Griswold, an attorney making her first run for public office, who counts three from her own party in her corner.

“Wayne is one of the best secretaries of state we’ve had in the 43 years I’ve worked in the clerk’s office,” said Otero County Clerk and Recorder Sharon Sisnroy in a statement. “It doesn’t matter that he’s a Republican and I’m a Democrat. In this part of the state, it’s people over politics, and that’s why I’m endorsing him.”

The other elected clerks crossing party lines to back Williams – who served one term as El Paso County clerk and recorder before winning election as secretary of state – are Nancy Cruz of Huerfano County, Peach Vigil of Las Animas County, Kim Bonner of Routt County and Patti Nickell of Bent County.

Griswold lists among her endorsers Democratic clerks Gilbert Ortiz of Pueblo County, Kathryn Simillion of Gunnison County and Nathan Ruybal of Conejos County.

Former state Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, said he’s supporting Williams because he thinks the Republican has done a good job in a nonpartisan manner.

“He and I agree on some political/policy issues and disagree on others, but in his role as secretary of state, he has been an amazing and competent professional,” Rice said in an emailed statement. “We the people couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Williams’s list of Democrats backing his re-election also includes Las Animas County Commissioner Luis López II, Routt County Commissioner Doug Monger, Ramah Mayor Keith McCafferty, former Denver City Council member Susan Barnes-Gelt, former University of Colorado Regent Jim Martin, former Adams County Clerk and Recorder Karen Long and former Routt County Commissioner Steve Ivancie.

Griswold wasn’t impressed.

“Unlike Wayne,” she said in a statement, “I haven’t spent the last 20 years of my life rubbing elbows with political insiders. I’m an everyday person. While I’m glad to have support of people like President Obama and Vice President Biden, I am most happy to have support from everyday people like me from across the political spectrum.”

She added that she’s proud to have the support of a Republican friend, but her campaign wouldn’t provide Colorado Politics with any information about the man beyond his first name.

Griswold doesn’t list any Republicans among the more than 100 current and former elected officials, party officers, activists and operatives on the endorsement page on her campaign website.

Elizabeth Steele, the former elections director for the nonpartisan Colorado Common Cause, praised Williams in a statement as a “responsive, competent and willing partner in enhancing voting rights and access to the ballot.”

She added: “As a lifelong Democrat, I endorse his initiatives on automatic voter registration, risk-limiting audits, voting access for the homeless, and improving voter registration for those finishing parole and returning to society. … His accomplishments in his first term have earned him the right to a second.”

The American Constitution Party’s Amanda Campbell and Blake Huber of the Approval Voting Party are also running for the office, which oversees state elections as well as business registration and nonprofit activities.

Williams posted a digital ad about the endorsements and his approach to the office online this week: