Democrat Jessica Killin flips longtime GOP-held Colorado House seat

Democrat Jessica Killin is projected to unseat Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Killin’s win marks a political first for the Colorado Springs-area district, which has never elected a Democrat since its creation in 1973.

The Army veteran, who previously served as chief of staff to former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, capitalized on growing voter frustrations over rising gas prices tied to the ongoing Iran war and President Trump’s economic agenda .

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.

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.

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.

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’s legislative agenda, including the GOP’s “ One Big Beautiful Bill Act .”