Jessica Killin emerged from Colorado’s Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District and will face Republican incumbent Jeff Crank this November in a race that puts Colorado Springs and its deep military ties squarely in the spotlight. The contest has drawn national attention and money, but the district’s conservative lean and local priorities mean this won’t be a straightforward pick-up for Democrats.
Killin brings a résumé that national Democrats love: former Army captain turned political staffer, including a stint as chief of staff to the second gentleman. She entered the race as a first-time candidate with notable fundraising and outside backing, which helped her outperform fellow veteran Joe Reagan in the primary. That national support will be tested in a district where local concerns often outweigh party messaging.
Reagan leaned hard on his El Paso County roots, combat service and nonprofit work focused on helping veterans launch businesses, which made him a familiar figure around Colorado Springs. He previously ran for the seat in 2024 and framed his campaign around homegrown ties and practical veteran-focused solutions. Those local credentials still mattered to many voters, even if the national money favored Killin.
Jeff Crank, the Republican incumbent, ran unopposed in his primary and is seeking a second term representing the district centered on Colorado Springs. His background mixes Capitol Hill experience with local business and nonprofit roles, including work with the chamber of commerce and Americans for Prosperity. Crank also has a public-facing profile through his broadcasting work, which keeps him visible to conservative voters across the region.
The 5th District is anchored by Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy and includes fast-growing suburbs with a strong military presence. Those communities prioritize veterans’ issues, public safety and a steady fiscal approach, not ideological experiments from outside the district. That demographic reality is central to how Republicans will make their case in the general election.
National Democrats have made no secret of their interest in flipping the seat, adding Killin to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program as evidence of that push. Still, the district remains Republican-leaning, and historical voting patterns matter; Trump’s margin in El Paso County dropped from 22 points in 2016 to 10 points in 2024, which some Democrats point to as momentum but which also highlights how entrenched GOP support still is. The math doesn’t change the fact that local turnout and military-family concerns will be decisive.
In an effort to blunt progressive attacks, Killin signed onto an initiative that described its signatories as “capitalist, not socialist” and listed public safety, fiscal responsibility, secure borders and national pride among its priorities. That move shows she’s trying to walk a middle path and appeal to voters who might be wary of a leftward tilt. Republicans will argue that such gestures are tactical and that policy details are what decide elections, not campaign slogans.
Killin also said during an online news conference that candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America “should not be the face of our party,” a line that national party operatives and local activists will examine closely. From a Republican viewpoint, those comments give ground to question whether the Democratic coalition is unified or simply competitive when the messaging is convenient. The back-and-forth over identity and direction will be a recurring theme as both sides try to define the race.
Expect Republicans to emphasize Crank’s record with business leaders, veterans and conservative organizations while painting the national Democratic push as out-of-touch with local priorities. Messaging will focus on secure borders, fiscal discipline, support for the military and community safety—issues that resonate in this district. Voters in the Colorado Springs area will be watching which candidate best aligns with those expectations as the campaign heats up.
