Democrat Jessica Killin is projected to defeat Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) in Colorado's 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ, flipping a seat that has been in Republican hands for more than five decades.
The result marks a political milestone for the Colorado Springs-area district, which has never sent a Democrat to Congress since it was created in 1973.
Killin, an Army veteran who previously served as chief of staff to former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, rode a wave of voter frustration over rising gas prices tied to the ongoing Iran war and President Trump's economic agenda.
Her victory highlights how much the district's political terrain has shifted. Trump carried the seat by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024, and the outcome gives Democrats a significant pickup as they seek to regain control of the House.
The contest grew steadily more competitive in the closing stretch of the midterm cycle. The Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” in September, while DDHQ's preelection forecast still projected a roughly 7-point margin for the GOP.
On the campaign trail, Killin focused on affordability, healthcare and military families. She also criticized the Trump administration's decision to move the U.S. Space Command headquarters out of Colorado Springs to Alabama, an issue with deep local resonance in a district closely tied to the military and space industries.
Crank, a former conservative radio host and Americans for Prosperity executive, was first elected to the seat in 2024 following the retirement of longtime Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.).
During his first term, Crank largely backed Trump's legislative agenda, including the GOP's “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
