Rank-and-file members of the Colorado Republican Party might kick their leadership to the curb this Saturday — a move those leaders self-servingly dismiss as “illegitimate.”

The drama unfolds against the backdrop of the Republican National Convention, where Donald Trump basked in enthusiastic unity and boisterous cheers.

Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams — who Republicans blasted for clinging to his position while he ran for Congress — can’t say the same. The national GOP has completely skipped Colorado in its funding strategy — leaving the state party without a dime from the Republican National Committee.

Willliams snagged Trump’s endorsement in his failed bid for the 5th congressional district. Yet, he can’t seem to leverage his supposed Trump cred to boost his party. Instead, he’s fumbling like a butterfingered Broncos quarterback.

Williams’ campaign donated $60,000 to the state party but blew $20,000 attacking his primary opponent, Jeff Crank, who then trounced Williams. The remaining $40,000 is a mystery. Williams took a salary, and he sent mailers attacking Trump-endorsed Gabe Evans in the 8th district — while officially backing Janak Joshi as the “MAGA” guy instead.

Meanwhile, Trump campaign co-Chair Chris LaCivita admonished Williams for “siphoning money” from their campaign, using Trump’s hush-money verdict to fundraise for the Colorado GOP and Williams’ own campaign.

Why would Trump or the RNC trust Williams with one penny when he keeps crossing Trump and deepening party divides?

On June 26, a quarter of the Colorado GOP’s State Central Committee requested Williams call a meeting to consider his removal. Party bylaws require Williams to set this up within 10 days. That didn’t happen.

Instead, Vice Chair Hope Scheppelman called a meeting for Friday, July 19, near Durango. She planned to immediately recess and reconvene on Aug. 31, promising to address the removal issue then.

But Scheppelman’s call neither mentioned the removal issue directly nor met the required criteria. As chairman, Williams was supposed to call the meeting. (Spoiler: he didn’t.) Additionally, Scheppelman failed to gather the necessary support from 25% of the membership.

It’s another oops for Scheppelman, who previously shared a Democrat’s ad smearing Republican Jeff Hurd during the 3rd district primary — editing out the legal disclaimer. (The party endorsed Ron Hanks over Hurd, who won.) Once caught, Scheppelman boasted she “posted a video paid for by Adam Frisch” and linked to it again — because nothing says “Oops!” like doubling down.

When the chair refuses to call a required meeting, any member can do it. So, Todd Watkins called one for this Saturday, July 27. Members will vote to remove and replace Williams and other officers.

This isn’t unprecedented: Michigan Republicans recently expelled their chair with backing from the RNC and the courts.

Then, on July 9, the Colorado GOP’s executive committee (ExCom) met to settle the “dispute.” Their “Final Decision” declared Watkins’ meeting invalid, claiming he didn’t prove the 25% threshold was met. They also cancelled Scheppelman’s meeting.

Here’s the thing: The ExCom admitted there’s no clear rule on verifying member support — even calling for a new bylaw establishing “fair and reasonable” procedures.

o, how can they invalidate Watkins’ meeting based on a rule that doesn’t exist? Also, lists like his were accepted before. Why not now?

It’s like changing the rules after the game is over — a classic, ex post facto move to penalize Watkins and his compatriots for failing to follow a non-existent rule.

Undeterred by the drama, Watkins is charging ahead. “We are right,” Watkins, a former Williams supporter, texted me. “We are following the letter of the law/bylaw; no need to gesticulate or maneuver.”

In response, the state party filed a frivolous lawsuit seeking to thwart Watkins and Nancy Pallozzi, Watkins’ co-mutineer and Jefferson County GOP chair.

Republicans call that lawfare — the very thing they condemned when Colorado’s Supreme Court sought to disqualify Trump from the ballot and deny Republicans their vote.

Now, Williams and Co. are employing lawfare to deny grassroots Republicans a speedy vote on whether they should keep their jobs. Let’s be honest: Is Williams afraid he’ll lose the vote?

Never before has there been such a full-court press to discredit a faction within the Colorado GOP. Party bosses held an ExCom meeting specifically to disqualify Watkins’ effort. They’ve issued notices decreeing his meeting “improper and illegal,” even though it isn’t. Now, they’re duking it out in court.

It’s personal, too. For weeks, Williams’ minions at RINO Watch, a website leading the inquisition to excise “Republicans in Name Only,” have branded Watkins “Traitor Todd” — mere months after inducting him into their “Grassroots Patriot Hall of Fame.” Ah, how the mighty have fallen.

Multiple sources confirm one of RINO Watch’s founders is podcast host Chuck Bonniwell. His wife, Julie, recently represented the website on KOA radio. Bonniwell, it turns out, wrote the ExCom’s “Final Decision” against Watkins.

You can’t un-crash a car that’s careened off the mountain, but the Colorado GOP can steer itself back on track. By appointing an experienced, credible chairman who’s ready to engage with donors and immediately hit the ground running, they might be able to salvage some credibility.

Let’s be real: This Saturday’s meeting is both legal and legitimate. That’s what terrifies Dave Williams and his gang.

With such petty antics, it’s no wonder Trump and the RNC are avoiding Colorado like the plague.

Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.