Jessica Killin wins 5th Congressional District race

Driving the news: Killin led Reagan with 63% to 37%, based on early returns posted by the Secretary of State's Office.

• AP called the race for Killin at 7:47pm, less than an hour after polls closed.

State of play: Killin turned the race into a test of electability, leaning on her military service, national Democratic support and fundraising advantage.

• Killin, a Colorado Springs native and Army veteran, served as a captain and paratrooper and later worked as chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
• Reagan, also an Army veteran, argued he was better positioned after narrowly losing the 2024 Democratic primary and building a résumé in small business and nonprofit work.

The big picture: Democrats are betting that veteran candidates can compete in GOP-held districts by appealing to military families, unaffiliated voters and disaffected Republicans — a strategy Killin will test in a district that includes multiple military installations.

The other side: U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank was unopposed for the Republican nomination.