Who's running in Colorado's 5th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Candidates
4
Incumbent
Jeff Crank
Parties
Republican · Democratic · American Constitution · Libertarian
4 candidates · ballot order · Jeff Crank currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Supporting Colorado Springs' military installations and veterans.
Making the community more resilient to wildfires.
Medicaid work requirements so that people with disabilities are prioritised.
Deporting people in the country illegally who are violent criminals; enforcing existing law.
Presidents seeking congressional approval before committing troops, while not cutting off support for troops already deployed.
A congressional stock trading ban and term and age limits.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Colorado's 5th District since January 2025; won in 2024 with about 54.7%.
Former Colorado state director and national chief operating officer of Americans for Prosperity.
Voted for the 2025 Republican tax and spending law, including Medicaid work requirements.
Voted in June 2026 against a measure directing President Trump to withdraw troops from the Iran war or obtain congressional approval.
Received a House Ethics Committee gift-disclosure waiver in 2025 for his daughter's wedding; his campaign says he received no gifts.
Endorsed by President Trump and Americans for Prosperity; unopposed in the June 30, 2026 primary.
Arguments in favor
'This election is a choice between a middle class neighbor who shares your struggles and someone who spent the last 25 years in Washington, D.C.'
— Jeff Crank, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
Colorado's Medicaid expansion means 'the people who really need it — the people with disabilities and the people with children who have disabilities' are competing with able-bodied adults, and work requirements fix that.
— Jeff Crank, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
He has worked for more than 30 years to make El Paso County a stronger community and is 'focused on real results for families across the district.'
— Jeff Crank campaign website
Arguments against
'President Trump, with your approval, went into war with Iran without consulting allies and without consulting Congress… People elected him to provide oversight over the executive branch, and he's failed to do that. We are now less safe.'
— Jessica Killin, Democratic opponent, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
He sought a rare waiver so 'no one knows what gifts he received, who gave them or what they were worth', and he is a political insider who worked for special interests at Americans for Prosperity.
— Emily Dalgleish, Killin campaign manager, and Killin campaign ads, reported by The Colorado Sun (which found the ads' central gift claim misleading)
The Medicaid provisions of the 2025 budget law he voted for 'are only harming working families, and making life more expensive for Coloradans.'
— Jessica Killin, Democratic opponent, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
What we couldn’t verify
Details of the second scheduled debate were not established from the sources read.
A 'full overhaul' of the health insurance system and reversing Medicaid provisions of the 2025 budget law.
Congress reasserting its check on the president's war powers, including over the Iran war.
Prioritising deportation of dangerous criminals and putting more guidelines on how ICE operates.
Immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.
A congressional stock trading ban and term and age limits.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Former US Army captain and paratrooper.
Former executive and lobbyist for USAA.
Former congressional chief of staff and chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Won the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary with 61.2% over Joe Reagan.
Had raised close to $2.5 million by late August 2026, according to Colorado Newsline.
Endorsed by Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, EMILYs List, VoteVets and the DCCC's Red to Blue programme.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
'I am glad that we now have a safe and secure border. I also think we must make sure we prioritize deporting dangerous criminals. But that has not been happening with ICE… they're deporting grandmas, not gangsters.'
— Jessica Killin, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
Families are 'already hurting on their health care costs', and the district needs a representative who will provide real oversight of the executive branch.
— Jessica Killin, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
Arguments against
She has 'spent the last 25 years in Washington, D.C.' rather than sharing the struggles of middle-class residents of the district.
— Jeff Crank, Republican opponent, at the August 27 debate, reported by Colorado Newsline
Her first attack ads made a misleading claim that Crank sought a waiver to take undisclosed gifts from 'lobbyist buddies'; the waiver was for his daughter's wedding and required bipartisan Ethics Committee approval. 'This is a desperate attempt by a losing campaign to smear Jeff Crank.'
— The Colorado Sun fact check, and Eve Sparks, Crank spokeswoman
What we couldn’t verify
Killin's campaign website could not be located.
Details of the second scheduled debate were not established from the sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Colorado held its primaries on June 30, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. The district uses the map drawn by Colorado's independent redistricting commission in 2021; no redistricting affecting 2026 was found. Amendment 86 on this November's ballot concerns future congressional redistricting and would not change the 2026 lines. Four candidates are on the ballot, per the Secretary of State's list certified September 4: Republican incumbent Jeff Crank, unopposed in his primary; Democrat Jessica Killin, who beat Joe Reagan 61.2% to 38.8%; American Constitution Party candidate Christopher Mitchell; and Libertarian Mark Elworth Jr. Unaffiliated Steven Fuller is registered as a write-in and is not included here; Ballotpedia lists Matt Cavanaugh and Roy Matthewson as not having made the ballot. The district covers Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County. Crank won the open seat in 2024 with about 54.7%. The DCCC has named Killin to its Red to Blue programme. The candidates debated on August 27 in Colorado Springs, with a second debate scheduled.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Colorado ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.