This story by Sara Wilson appeared on Colorado Newsline on October 1, 2025
El Paso County Republicans will need to meet again to fill a vacant state legislative seat after the Colorado secretary of state’s office rejected the paperwork from the first vacancy election, which took place last week.
That election happened too soon, the office said in a Tuesday release, because state law requires a minimum 10-day written notice ahead of a vacancy committee meeting. Former state Rep. Rose Pugliese resigned on September 15 and the committee met on September 22, just one week later.
The Republican committee selected podcast host and Second Amendment activist Ava Flanell to fill the seat. Flanell said she intends to seek the seat again when the vacancy committee meets again on Oct. 11.
“This is disappointing, but mistakes happen. I’m ready to go through the vacancy process again and continue to present my vision of a Republican Party that bands together to fight the left, rather than each other,” Flanell posted on X Tuesday.
Whoever is picked to represent House District 14 in Colorado Springs will join the 22-member Republican House caucus when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
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