Republicans in El Paso County Saturday once again selected Second Amendment activist Ava Flanell to fill a vacant seat in the Colorado House of Representatives, after the first vacancy committee vote was invalidated by the secretary of state’s office.

Flanell won during the second round of voting with 34 votes. Joe Woyte received 30 votes. Troy Vanderhule also ran and was eliminated when he came in third place during the first round of votes.

“This position is not about me. It’s about you, about this district. It’s ensuring our community is represented with strong principles and a patriotic voice at the Capitol,” Flanell said ahead of the first vote.

Flanell will join the 22-member House Republican Caucus.

“Like many of you, I look around and see a Colorado that doesn’t resemble the one we grew up loving. This is about protecting what makes America strong and restoring what made America exceptional: faith, family and freedom and personal responsibility,” she said.

This was the second time a vacancy committee met to appoint someone to the seat. They first met on Sept. 22 and selected Flanell, but the results were not valid because the meeting did not meet the 10-day written notice requirement.

Flanell will replace former Representative Rose Pugliese, a Republican who resigned in September after a public fallout with House majority leadership during a special session in August.

She will serve the remainder of Pugliese’s term and will need to run for reelection next year if she wants to stay in the seat.

The Legislature is set to reconvene in January.