Democrat Jessica Killin takes Colorado's 5th District
The veteran and former Emhoff aide wins a seat that has elected only Republicans since 1973.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Jessica Killin has won the congressional race for Colorado's 5th District.
Decision Desk HQ projects the Democrat will unseat Rep. Jeff Crank. The victory marks the first time a Democrat has held this Colorado Springs area seat since its creation in 1973.
Killin, an Army veteran, previously served as chief of staff to Doug Emhoff. Her campaign focused on affordability, healthcare, and the needs of military families. She also criticized the Trump administration's decision to move the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Alabama.
Voters in the district expressed frustration over rising gas prices linked to the Iran war and the president's economic agenda. Crank, a former conservative radio host and Americans for Prosperity executive, was first elected in 2024 after the retirement of Rep. Doug Lamborn. He largely supported the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act during his first term.
The race became tight in the final weeks of the campaign. The Cook Political Report changed its rating from likely Republican to lean Republican in September. DDHQ's pre-election forecast still projected a seven point margin for the GOP. President Trump carried the district by approximately nine percentage points in the 2024 election.
