There will only be one candidate with the last name Williams running in Colorado’s Republican primary for the congressional seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Wayne Williams, the former one-term secretary of state who lost this year’s Colorado Springs mayoral race, announced on Friday that he won’t join state GOP chair Dave Williams and others seeking their party’s nomination in the El Paso County-based 5th Congressional District.

“After careful consideration, prayer, and reflection, I have made the difficult decision not to run for Congress at this time,” Wayne Williams told Colorado Politics in a text message.

He said that he plans to support Jeff Crank in the Republican primary, adding that he believes the podcaster and political consultant is the candidate who can “seek tangible solutions for the problems facing our great nation.”

“We need someone who will provide support for our area military installations, work to secure our borders, and get government spending under control,” Wayne Williams said. “I believe the person best suited to provide these necessary solutions and represent us with distinction in Congress is Jeff Crank, and he has my full support.”

In addition to Crank and Dave Williams, Republicans who have declared candidacies for the heavily Republican seat include state Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, and Army veteran Joshua Griffin.

In an appearance Friday morning on Richard Randall’s talk show on KVOR-AM, Wayne Williams took a veiled shot at Dave Williams, the combative state party chair who has drawn criticism for attacking fellow Republicans, noting that Crank “has consistently supported our Republican nominees.”

“It is absolutely critical that we have a member of Congress who is part of the governing Republican majority,” Wayne Williams said. “And when you see other prospects there, there’s a concern that you could have someone who is not part of working together as a party to govern. I am not interested in a minority role in Congress where what you do is you whine about stuff.”

He added: “Jeff is also someone who has consistently supported our Republican nominees, and like you and I, he and I sometimes haven’t always agreed on who that nominee should be. But once that nominee has been chosen, Jeff has always been there advocating for them. And we need someone who’s going to build that party, and work with our Republican colleagues, not attack our Republican colleagues. And so that’s the kind of congressman that I want for my community.”

Dave Williams fired back in a text message to Colorado Politics: “The same Wayne Williams who stood shoulder to shoulder with corrupt Democrat Jena Griswold on TV?  No wonder he’s backing a fellow Never-Trumper who’s made a career out of selling out our conservative values.”

During his mayoral run last year, Wayne Williams took fire from fellow El Paso County Republicans – including Dave Williams – for appearing in a 2022 public service ad with Griswold, his successor as secretary of state, telling voters that Colorado’s election system is safe and secure.

A former El Paso County clerk and county commissioner, Wayne Williams lost the May runoff for Colorado Springs mayor to unaffiliated candidate Yemi Mobolade, who became the city’s first elected mayor who wasn’t also a registered Republican.

Lamborn announced earlier this month that he wouldn’t seek a 10th term. Over the years, both Crank and Dave Williams ran unsuccessful primary challenges against Lamborn – Crank in 2006 and 2008, and Dave Williams in 2022.

Gardner, a veteran state lawmaker and one of the other Republicans vying for the congressional nomination, told Colorado Politics he’s hearing from voters who are turned off by the GOP’s internal squabbling.

“This election is about sending someone to Congress who can deliver real results for the Pikes Peak region. Voters are tired of the party warfare represented by the other two major candidates in this race,” Gardner said, referring to Crank and Dave Williams. “As a veteran, successful, effective astute legislator and AF academy graduate, I’m seeking the mandate of voters to do what I’ve always done – go to Washington and get things done for families, the military, veterans, seniors and the entire community.”

Gardner said he isn’t worried about paving the way for Dave Williams to win the nomination by splitting the primary vote with Crank, as Wayne Williams suggested might happen if multiple candidates run.

“I’m not interested in party warfare. I’m not interested in vacant statements that can’t be delivered on,” Gardner added. “I’m interested in doing what I’ve promised to do for the people of our community. That’s why over the past three weeks I’ve gained huge support from people who say they’re tired of all that party warfare that’s going on – as am I.”

Six Democrats and a handful of unaffiliated and third-party candidates have also filed to run in the district, which has only elected Republicans to the House of Representatives since its creation more than 50. years ago.

Editor’s note: This developing story has been updated.