More than two dozen Republican politicians, party officials and activists are supporting Brita Horn’s bid to chair the state GOP, the former Routt County treasurer announced Thursday.

Among those backing Horn are former University of Colorado Regent and past gubernatorial nominee Heidi Ganahl, Republican National Committeewoman Christy Fidura and one-time congressional nominees John Fabbricatore and Steve Monahan.

State Republicans and Democrats are set to elect officers in March as part of the parties’ biennial reorganizations.

Horn is so far facing Darcy Schoening, the state GOP’s director of special initiatives, though additional candidates are expected to emerge in coming weeks. The party’s vice chair, Hope Scheppelman, has told party officials that she’s considering a run if incumbent state chair Dave Williams doesn’t seek another term. Williams, a former state lawmaker, has yet to announce his plans.

“Colorado Republicans, more than ever, need a chair who can unite us,” said Ganahl, who lost her 2022 run for governor to Democrat Jared Polis. “Brita Horn can do that.”

Added Ganahl: “We have been on the front lines together in Colorado politics for a decade. As chair, I know Brita will be working from Day One to ensure 2026 will be the best year Republicans have seen in a long time.”

Newly elected state Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, took a veiled jab at Williams — and the controversies that have engulfed his tenure running the party — in a statement released by Horn’s campaign.

“Republicans need a chair who will not divide and attack our own party, but rather unite us and stand with our candidates and elected officials,” said Gonzalez, alluding to objections raised by Williams’ critics that he spent party resources last year opposing Republican candidates.

“I am supporting Brita for state party chair because I know she will do everything she can to help candidates like me get elected and remain elected,” Gonzalez added.

It’s the second time in less than a year that Horn has launched a campaign to chair the state Republicans. Last summer, when a group of Williams’ opponents tried to remove him from office, Horn first lost a bid for chair and then won election as vice chair at a disputed meeting that was later ruled invalid under party rules by a district court judge.

Numerous Republicans who supported the ill-fated attempt to oust Williams appear on the list of Horn’s endorsers, including former state House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington; state House Minority Whip Ryan Armagosst, R-Berthoud; Arapahoe County GOP chair Anne Rowland; and Chaffee County GOP chair Dave Williams, who isn’t related to the state party’s sitting chair.

Among Horn’s other supporters are Lincoln Club of Colorado President Drew Bolin; state Rep. Carlos Barron, R-Fort Lupton; former state Rep. Tonya Van Beber, R-Eaton; former El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf and his wife, activist Betsy VanderWerf; and grassroots organizers Natalee Tennant, Jennifer Baker and Lesley Hollywood.

Both major parties have scheduled county reorganization meetings in the first half of February. State Democrats plan to convene for their state reorganization on March 8, with Republicans holding theirs on March 29.