Democrat Jessica Killin flips Colorado's 5th District, ousting Rep. Jeff Crank

Democrat Jessica Killin is projected to unseat Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) in Colorado's 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ ¹. The Associated Press has also called the race for Killin ².

As of 12:38 p.m. Thursday, Killin led Crank 50.56% to 45.98% with 94% of the votes counted ². Killin's campaign says Crank has called to concede ².

Killin's win marks a political first for the Colorado Springs-area district, which has never elected a Democrat since its creation in 1973 ¹. KOAA News 5 reported the district was created in 1972 ².

Killin, 53, is an Army veteran who served from 1995 to 2003 and attained the rank of captain ². She later worked as a congressional staffer and served as chief of staff to Doug Emhoff, then the second gentleman ².

From Channel GOPShomari Figures wins Alabama's House District 2Shomari Figures · captioned, with the source named

Killin centered her campaign on affordability, healthcare and military families, while also criticizing the Trump administration's decision to relocate the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Alabama ¹.

Crank, a former conservative radio host and Americans for Prosperity executive, was first elected in 2024 following the retirement of longtime Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) ¹. During his first term, Crank largely supported Trump's legislative agenda, including the GOP's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" ¹.

The race grew increasingly competitive in the final stretch of the midterm cycle. The Cook Political Report shifted the contest from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican" in September, while DDHQ's preelection forecast still projected a roughly 7-point GOP margin ¹.

Her victory also underscores the shifting political landscape in a district Trump carried by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024, giving Democrats a significant pickup in their bid to regain control of the House ¹.

What happens next

Killin will be sworn in for her first term representing one of Colorado's geographically smaller but more urban congressional districts, which includes Colorado Springs and its suburbs ². Her win is a significant pickup in Democrats' bid to regain control of the House.

That matters because control of the House determines which investigations proceed and which bills reach the floor, shaping the agenda on taxes, health costs and oversight of the Trump administration.

The Record

1. Nov 5, 2024Trump carried Colorado's 5th District by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024 ¹.
2. Sep 1, 2026The Cook Political Report shifted the contest from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican" in September ¹.
3. Nov 5, 2026As of 12:38 p.m. Thursday, Killin led Crank 50.56% to 45.98% with 94% of the votes counted ².

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<h2>Democrat Jessica Killin flips Colorado&#39;s 5th District, ousting Rep. Jeff Crank</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrat-jessica-killin-flips-colorado-s-5th-district-ousting-rep-jeff-crank">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Democrat Jessica Killin is projected to unseat Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) in Colorado&#39;s 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ . The Associated Press has also called the race for Killin .</p> <p>As of 12:38 p.m. Thursday, Killin led Crank 50.56% to 45.98% with 94% of the votes counted . Killin&#39;s campaign says Crank has called to concede .</p> <p>Killin&#39;s win marks a political first for the Colorado Springs-area district, which has never elected a Democrat since its creation in 1973 . KOAA News 5 reported the district was created in 1972 .</p> <p>Killin, 53, is an Army veteran who served from 1995 to 2003 and attained the rank of captain . She later worked as a congressional staffer and served as chief of staff to Doug Emhoff, then the second gentleman .</p> <p>Killin centered her campaign on affordability, healthcare and military families, while also criticizing the Trump administration&#39;s decision to relocate the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Alabama .</p> <p>Crank, a former conservative radio host and Americans for Prosperity executive, was first elected in 2024 following the retirement of longtime Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) . During his first term, Crank largely supported Trump&#39;s legislative agenda, including the GOP&#39;s &quot;One Big Beautiful Bill Act&quot; .</p> <p>The race grew increasingly competitive in the final stretch of the midterm cycle. The Cook Political Report shifted the contest from &quot;likely Republican&quot; to &quot;lean Republican&quot; in September, while DDHQ&#39;s preelection forecast still projected a roughly 7-point GOP margin .</p> <p>Her victory also underscores the shifting political landscape in a district Trump carried by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024, giving Democrats a significant pickup in their bid to regain control of the House .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Killin will be sworn in for her first term representing one of Colorado&#39;s geographically smaller but more urban congressional districts, which includes Colorado Springs and its suburbs . Her win is a significant pickup in Democrats&#39; bid to regain control of the House.</p> <p>That matters because control of the House determines which investigations proceed and which bills reach the floor, shaping the agenda on taxes, health costs and oversight of the Trump administration.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/democrat-jessica-killin-flips-colorado-s-5th-district-ousting-rep-jeff-crank">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/democrat-jessica-killin-flips-colorado-s-5th-district-ousting-rep-jeff-crank.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Democrat Jessica Killin flips longtime GOP-held Colorado House seat” (2026-11-06). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6180533-jessica-killin-unseats
2. KOAA News 5, “Jessica Killin flips Colorado’s 5th Congressional District for Democrats” (2026-11-05). koaa.com/americavotes/jessica-killin-flips-colorados-5th-con

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