{"id":29657,"date":"2024-01-19T00:15:55","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T00:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/shelli-shaw-vice-chair-resign-from-la-plata-county-gop-leadership\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T07:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:01:23","slug":"shelli-shaw-vice-chair-resign-from-la-plata-county-gop-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/shelli-shaw-vice-chair-resign-from-la-plata-county-gop-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Shelli Shaw, vice chair resign from La Plata County GOP leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Shelli
Shelli Shaw, center, the chairwoman of the La Plata County Republican Central Committee, protests outside The Durango Herald on Sept. 12, 2023. Shaw\u2019s house is on the market and she has been asked to step down before the election seasons gets underway. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Shelli Shaw, one-time candidate for Colorado\u2019s House of Representatives and chairwoman of the La Plata County Republican Central Committee, has announced her resignation from the role of party chairperson. The party\u2019s First Vice Chairwoman Kelly Hegarty is also stepping down.<\/p>\n

Neither provided a specific reason.<\/p>\n

Shaw faced removal by a vote of the party\u2019s precinct captains Jan. 29 and had previously rebuffed a request for her resignation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal was to take you through Caucus and Assembly before my stated March 19, 2024, resignation date; however, I believe that for the party to move forward into this important election season, it would be best if I step aside now,\u201d Shaw wrote in an email to party members Thursday afternoon. \u201cThat way our focus, time, and energy will be directed in the right place and not at each other. You deserve better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcement seemingly brings to a close Shaw\u2019s brief, albeit raucous foray into Republican politics in Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n

Shaw, a far-right conservative who moved to Durango in 2021, unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Rep. Barbara McLachlan<\/a> for the 59th House District seat in 2022. In February 2023, she was elected chairwoman <\/a>of the party, beating out the sitting chairman Dave Peters.<\/p>\n

In April, the party announced <\/a>that Reps. Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz, both ultraconservative members of Congress, were slated to speak at the party\u2019s Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser in November. Neither ultimately showed up, <\/a>as negotiations to prevent a government shutdown were ongoing.<\/p>\n

The executive committee informed The Durango Herald<\/em> <\/a>that reporters would be barred from party events in September, and officials stopped responding to most phone calls or emails from reporters at that time. The party held a short-lived series<\/a> of protests outside the paper\u2019s offices, accusing the Herald<\/em> of bias.<\/p>\n

Shaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.<\/p>\n

In December, the party chairwoman made headlines again <\/a>when she refused to certify the 2023 election \u2013 despite no evidence, or even substantial claims, that any fraud had occurred. Shaw has previously cast doubt on the 2020 presidential election, despite the absence of evidence indicating that any malfeasance impacted the results.<\/p>\n

In early January, the Herald<\/em> received multiple anonymous tips that Shaw was moving and had been asked to step down. Documents left anonymously at the office revealed internal strife among the party\u2019s leaders. <\/a><\/p>\n