Crank, Killin Battle for Colorado's 5th District
Republican incumbent Jeff Crank and Democratic nominee Jessica Killin face off as more than $15 million has been spent on the race.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Jeff Crank seeks a second term in Colorado's 5th Congressional District against Democrat Jessica Killin, who won her party's nomination in June by 16,000 votes. Both candidates name affordability as the biggest issue facing constituents.
Why it matters
The race is shaping up as a close contest heading into election night, with polling showing a dead heat. Spending has surged well beyond the 2024 race, which saw less than $2 million invested and Crank win by 50,000 votes.
Federal Election Commission data counts spending by both campaigns and outside Super PACs, totaling more than $15 million in CO-5 versus under $2 million in 2024. Few independent polls exist, and nearly all were funded by Killin's campaign or allied Democratic groups, leaving the race's true standing unclear.
The players
Jeff Crank
Jeff Crank is the Republican incumbent representing Colorado's 5th Congressional District, seeking a second term in the House.
Jessica Killin
Jessica Killin is the Democratic nominee for Colorado's 5th Congressional District and a first-time candidate with no prior political office.
The details
Killin, a first-time candidate with no prior political office, won the Democratic nomination in June. Crank, the Republican incumbent, previously defeated Democratic challenger River Gassen in 2024 by 50,000 votes.
Timeline
June 2026: Killin wins the Democratic nomination, defeating Joe Regan by 16,000 votes.
November 3, 2026: Election night for the Colorado 5th District race.
Political Context
The 2024 contest between Crank and Gassen cost under $2 million and produced a 50,000-vote Republican win. The 2026 race, with more than $15 million in spending, signals a far more contested district than the previous cycle suggested.
Voters in the district will choose their representative in the House on November 3, 2026. Both candidates have centered their campaigns on affordability, the issue most pressing to local households.
The takeaway
Voters in Colorado's 5th District face a race where spending has surged and polling is scarce. Following election night results will show whether the heavy investment reshaped the contest.
What happens next
Election night for the district is November 3, 2026, when the race will be decided.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Colorado Elections coverage.
Live Poll
Do you think cost of living is getting better or worse in your area?
