Colorado Springs’ 5th Congressional District, home to Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy and much of the region’s national defense apparatus, is suddenly one of the hottest House races in the country. For the first time in decades, the Democratic primary features multiple candidates with military service: Jessica Killin, a former Army captain, and Joe Reagan, a veteran who completed two combat tours in Afghanistan. With national attention and outside money already circling, voters now have to decide whether shared service can outweigh long-standing party habits in a district that still leans Republican.
National attention and the battlefield map
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added CO-05 to its 2026 "Districts in Play" list, a formal nod that party strategists see an opening and plan to send staff and fundraising firepower into the race, according to the DCCC.
Money and momentum
Killin’s campaign heads into spring with an unusual financial edge for a Democrat in this district. She reported roughly $1.5 million in cash on hand entering April, outpacing Rep. Jeff Crank’s reported $1.17 million and towering over primary rival Joe Reagan’s roughly $18,000, according to Denver Gazette.
Veterans on the ballot
Both leading Democrats are leaning hard on their service records in a district defined by military installations and a large veteran community. Killin, a fourth-generation Coloradan and former Army captain who later worked at USAA and in the White House, secured top-line placement at the Democratic assembly with 39.6% of delegate support, while Reagan cleared the 30% threshold with about 34.2%. Those delegate results and candidate backgrounds were reported by Colorado Politics. Killin’s quip that "This is not your grandmother’s Colorado Springs" was captured by the Denver Gazette, a line that neatly sums up how Democrats hope the city’s political identity is changing.
Does service sway voters?
Strategists say military credentials can help a Democrat break through in conservative, base-heavy districts, but they rarely erase partisan instincts on their own. Analysts note that veteran candidates can chip away at independent and veteran support that usually leans Republican, a dynamic explored in recent Colorado contests by Axios.
What to watch before June
Primary ballots go out in early June and must be returned by the June 30 deadline, and whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination will heavily influence how national groups spend later in the summer. Local outlets report a slim generic Republican edge but show unaffiliated voters leaning strongly toward Democrats. If independents rally around a veteran nominee, a mix of outside money and DCCC coordination could push CO-05 toward true toss-up territory, according to Colorado Politics.
The district’s heavy military footprint makes service a powerful part of any candidate’s pitch, but November will likely come down to the basics: who raises the most, who turns out their voters, and whether independents decide to reward shared service or stick with familiar party labels.
