Who's In the Race

Colorado 5th District outside spending is already flowing in a 2026 contest that pits Democrat Jessica Killin against Incumbent Republican Jeff Crank.

Killin won 45,511 votes in the Democratic primary to advance, while Crank ran in the Republican primary uncontested.

What They Stand For

Killin runs on health care, accountability, and her background as an Army veteran and former public servant.

  • Healthcare: Killin says she would work to restore access for people who lose coverage, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and lower health-care and prescription-drug costs, according to her campaign priorities page. That page is her official campaign website.
  • Government accountability: Her campaign says public officials should put service first, meet with voters, hold town halls, and deliver results for their communities, according to the same priorities page.
  • Economy: Her campaign frames its agenda around opposing policies it says take money from Coloradans, create instability, and hurt working families, according to her endorsements page. The official material reviewed did not list more detailed tax or spending proposals.
  • Leadership: Killin presents herself as an Army veteran and former public servant seeking to bring competence, courage, and character to Congress, according to her campaign homepage. The campaign describes that as her leadership approach rather than a specific bill.

Crank runs on the border, lower taxes, and less regulation for small businesses.

  • Border and Immigration: Crank says the southern border is at a crisis level and calls stopping illegal immigration a top priority for congressional Republicans, according to his campaign biography page.
  • Taxes: Crank supports lower taxes, according to that same biography page.
  • Regulation: Crank supports reducing or reversing rules he says hold back small businesses, with the goal of encouraging hiring and growth, according to that same page.
  • Broader Economy: His campaign links lower taxes and reduced regulation to business expansion, job creation, and economic growth in Colorado, according to that same page.

The Money Behind the Race

Counted outside spending in this race totals about $260,000, with about $259,705 tied to opposition and about $125 tied to support. By party grouping, about $259,705 was linked to the Republican side of the race, and about $125 was linked to the Democratic side. The support total was linked to Jessica Willow Killin, while the opposition total was linked to Jeff Crank.

The committee leaderboard lists two spenders: AB PAC at about $259,705 and GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION at about $125. That leaderboard gives names and totals only and does not by itself show support or opposition direction. Separate records show AB PAC spending was opposition to Crank, and GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION spending was support for Killin.

Only two committees appear in the counted leaderboard through the periodic-report coverage. The periodic-report totals cover through September 21 and do not include $2.04M in unrestated 24/48-hour notices filed through September 29. The periodic report totals cover through September 21.

Counted totals cover independent spending restated in periodic reports through Sept. 21. An additional $2.04 million in 24- and 48-hour notices filed after that date through Sept. 29 is pending and not included in the counted totals above. Pending spenders named in the race record include No Going Back PAC with $1.34 million in opposition, Americans for Prosperity Action with $419,000 in mixed support and opposition, and HMP with $232,000 in opposition.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Three pundit ratings all call the race Lean Republican. Cook lists Lean Republican as of Sept. 25. Sabato lists Lean Republican as of Sept. 22. The consensus rating lists Lean Republican as of Sept. 28.

Prediction-market odds from Kalshi as of Sept. 29 give Republicans a 70.3 percent chance and Democrats a 29.7 percent chance. The market had $33,009 in volume. The race record also notes two polls, with the latest poll dated July 21, but provides no average.

Colorado is purple and competitive, with Democrats holding a 5-3 House majority in both 2022 and 2024. Republicans won three of eight House races in 2022 and three of eight in 2024, while Democrats won five of eight in each cycle. Democrats won the state’s only Senate race in 2022, when Michael Bennet won with 55.882 percent of the vote. There was no Senate race in the state in 2024.

In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris won Colorado with 54.13 percent of the vote.
In this district, Republican Jeff Crank won the 2024 House race with 54.66 percent of the vote. In 2022, Republican Doug Lamborn won the district with 55.95 percent of the vote.

Elsewhere in 2024, Democrat Diana DeGette won the 1st District with 76.53 percent. Democrat Joe Neguse won the 2nd District with 68.36 percent. Republican Jeff Hurd won the 3rd District with 50.8 percent. Republican Lauren Boebert won the 4th District with 53.64 percent. Democrat Jason Crow won the 6th District with 58.97 percent. Democrat Brittany Pettersen won the 7th District with 55.33 percent. Republican Gabe Evans won the 8th District with 48.95 percent.

In 2022, Democrat Diana DeGette won the 1st District with 80.3 percent. Democrat Joe Neguse won the 2nd District with 69.98 percent. Republican Lauren Boebert won the 3rd District with 50.06 percent. Republican Ken Buck won the 4th District with 60.94 percent. Democrat Jason Crow won the 6th District with 60.6 percent. Democrat Brittany Pettersen won the 7th District with 56.38 percent. Democrat Yadira Caraveo won the 8th District with 48.36 percent.

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