Historic move spurred by Jessica Killin’s candidacy, which the Colorado Sun reported gives Democrats “a stronger 5th District candidate this year than they’ve likely ever had.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – In case you missed it, last Tuesday, 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 for Democrats 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 raise the resources to run a forceful campaign, is making this district one of the most competitive in the country. 

Read the highlights of the Districts in Play Update below:

Colorado Sun: National Democrats see a path to winning Colorado Springs’ congressional seat for first time ever

Jesse Paul wrote, 

“First, they 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 and is the former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff. While Killin still must first win the district’s Democratic primary to face Crank in November, she has used her national political network to amass a large amount of campaign cash that will help her compete if she makes it to the general election — as expected.

“Killin’s campaign reported raising $610,000 last quarter, including a $257,000 donation the candidate made to her own cause. The campaign opened the new year with more than $1.1 million in cash on hand after spending about $270,000 in the final three months of 2025. 

“Crank raised about $300,000 in the final quarter of last year and spent about $115,000. His campaign reported starting 2026 with about $1 million in the bank.

“Secondly, the district — which is entirely contained within El Paso County — has been trending toward Democrats over the past decade.”

The Gazette: National Democrats add Republican Jeff Crank in Colorado’s 5th CD to list of targeted GOP-held seats

Erenst Luning wrote,

“Also pointing to the district’s potential competitive status, the leading fundraiser among the five Democrats running in a primary to challenge Crank — first-time candidate Jessica Killin, an Army veteran and former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff — started the year with $1.1 million in the bank, outpacing the nearly $1 million on hand reported by Crank, marking the first time in memory a Democratic challenger has out-raised the Republican in the district in an off year.”

Colorado Public Radio: Democrats add Colorado Springs CD 5 to its list of seats to flip this fall

Caitlyn Kim wrote, 

“Democrats have a crowded primary field to take on freshman Crank, but Jessica Killin, a veteran and former chief of staff for Doug Emhoff, has out-raised Crank and has more cash on hand as the election year kicks off.

“A strong candidate raised in Colorado Springs is one reason why the seat is now on the target list.

“It also comes after The Cook Political Report moved the 5th District from a “Solid Republican” seat to a “Likely Republican” designation last month. It’s one of the few House seats that have consistently trended towards Democrats in the last few presidential races.”

Westword: Two Colorado Republicans Top Democrats' Hit List for 2026 Midterms

Hanna Metzger wrote,

“The district is currently represented by Republican Jeff Crank, elected in 2024. A former radio-show host and political consultant, Crank’s first term has largely been defined by his unwavering loyalty to President Donald Trump’s agenda, including defending Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland and dropping his promise to fight Trump on moving U.S. Space Command headquarters out of his district and into Alabama.

“‘Jeff Crank is failing Coloradans,’ says DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. ‘Instead of fighting for families, Crank is spending his time in Washington protecting reckless tariffs, gutting health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, and refusing to push back against disastrous cuts to the VA that hurt veterans and military families.

‘The DCCC will make sure that come November, Colorado’s 5th Congressional District elects a representative that finally puts them first.’”

Denver Post: Democrats set sights on U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank’s district, which he won by 14 points. Will it matter this year?

Nick Coltrain wrote, 

“Demographic shifts, President Donald Trump’s dropping approval ratings, and motivated liberal voters now have national Democrats eyeing a race they’ve long ignored: the typically ruby-red congressional district centered on Colorado Springs.

Over the past month, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has shifted its rating for the 5th Congressional District in the November election from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican,” projecting at least a tighter race. And the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Tuesday added the district to its “Districts in Play” list of targeted seats.

Those moves follow a late summer poll that showed more support for a generic Democrat than for incumbent Republican freshman U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, though the generic Democrat failed to crack 50%.”

Daily KOS: Democrats have 44 GOP-held seats on their midterms chopping block

Emily Singer wrote, 

“And in November, Democrat Jessica Killin released an internal poll showing her also down just 3 points to Crank in Colorado's 5th, which Trump won by 9 points and Crank carried by 14 points in 2024.

“‘Democrats are on offense, and our map reflects the fact that everyday Americans are tired of Republicans’ broken promises and ready for change in Congress,’ DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a news release.”

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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