COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – In Q1 of the election year, Southern Colorado native and Army veteran Jessica Killin had a standout quarter – leading in fundraising, building grassroots momentum, and earning key local and national support. 

Powerful Fundraising Start to 2026 

Jessica posted another impressive quarter, bringing in more than $665,000.  As a sign of her commitment to flipping CO-05 in 2026, Jessica personally invested $250,000 into the campaign. She enters the next quarter with over $1.5 million in cash on hand and over $2.3 million raised through the election cycle so far. 

The majority of Jessica’s donors are from Colorado, including over 1,000 donors in El Paso County. The campaign’s median donation is $25.

DCCC Targeted District for the First Time in History

In February, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that it added Colorado’s 5th Congressional District to its Districts in Play List, placing CO-05 among the top pick-up opportunities in the country.

Jessica Killin’s background as a U.S. Army veteran, public servant, mom, and fourth-generation Coloradan, along with her ability to run a compelling campaign, is making this district one of the most competitive in the country. 

As the Colorado Sun reported, the move was due to the fact that Democrats “have a stronger 5th District candidate this year than they’ve likely ever had in Jessica Killin, an Army veteran who was raised in Colorado Springs.”

Securing Top Spot on the Ballot

Petitioning Success

Jessica submitted over 3,500 signatures to access the ballot, greatly surpassing the required 1,500 signatures, with over 2,200 valid signatures. She was the first candidate of any party in CD-5 to submit petition signatures. During the process, Team Killin knocked over 5,000 doors and spoke to tens of thousands of voters. 

Jessica wins El Paso County Democratic Assembly

Jessica demonstrated the strong grassroots support she has earned, and the momentum she has built, by winning both the El Paso County Democratic Assembly and the caucus straw poll. With help from dedicated volunteers, she secured the top spot on the June primary ballot.

Community Engagement & Grassroots Support

Since the start of 2026, Jessica

• Hosted 23 events in El Paso County

  • 14 house parties hosted with supporters, 7 Coffees with Killin, 1 virtual meet & greet, and an Education Roundtable

• Attended 27 community events in El Paso County hosted by other organizations

• Had 28 meetings with El Paso County community members

• Took 8 tours of local nonprofits, businesses, and schools

• Hosted 11 volunteer trainings, engaging over 400 local volunteers

Endorsements from Key Local Leaders

Jessica’s endorsement list continues to grow, earning significant local endorsements this quarter: 

• Former Colorado State Senator Pete Lee

• Former Colorado Springs City Councilmember, Yolanda Avila

• Former Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party Kathleen Ricker

These are in addition to the endorsements Jessica earned in 2025. These key leaders and organizations back effective candidates who can win their districts and represent their communities well: 

• Senator Michael Bennet

• Senator John Hickenlooper

• Congressman Jason Crow

• Congresswoman Diana DeGette

• Congressman Joe Neguse

• Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen

• Colorado Springs Councilmember Nancy Henjum

• University of Colorado Regent Elliott Hood

• EMILYs List

• Defend the Vote

• VoteVets

• Defeat Extremists

• Voter Protection Project

• Elect Democratic Women

• New Politics

Building a winning campaign

“The energy and momentum of this campaign reflect that El Paso County is fed up with Jeff Crank’s lack of leadership and is ready for a representative who will stand up to the chaos of this administration and deliver real results for our community,” said fourth-generation Coloradan and Army Veteran Jessica Killin. “I’m so grateful for the support from community members, volunteers, and supporters who are putting this district on the map for the first time in history.”

About Jessica Killin

A proud fourth-generation Coloradan, Jessica Killin’s life has been shaped by a commitment to service and a deep love for her state and country. Raised in Colorado Springs by public school educators, she learned early the values of hard work and community. After graduating from Falcon High School, Jessica earned an ROTC scholarship and served as a Captain and paratrooper in the U.S. Army, leading soldiers as a Military Police Officer overseas. She has since dedicated her career to improving the livelihoods of all Americans, including over a decade at USAA, where she worked to protect military families during the 2008 financial crisis, streamline VA home loans, and help servicemembers avoid predatory lenders. Jessica is an Army veteran, a public servant, and a devoted mother in a blended family with her husband, Raj, and three children. 

To learn more about Jessica Killin and her campaign, please visit killinforcolorado.com and follow her on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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