Jason Crow takes top Dem post, won't seek Colorado governor's office
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U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Aurora) takes questions from reporters in the library at Hinkley High School in Aurora. Photo: John Frank/Axios
To retake the U.S. House, Democrats will need good candidates in the 2026 election. Finding them is now Jason Crow's job.
State of play: The Aurora congressman is now the co-chair for candidate recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Axios Denver has learned.
Why it matters: Beyond the job's importance, the position means Crow will not run for statewide office in 2026 despite being mentioned as a contender for governor.
What he's saying: "I'm rolling up my sleeves to help rebuild the Democratic Party and recruit the next generation of candidates who can win," Crow said in a statement to us.
- "Voters are looking for fresh voices and leaders who put their country and community before politics. We have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with voters."
Zoom in: The prominent leadership post puts the four-term lawmaker in the middle of the midterm's battle for power.
- Crow and two other co-chairs, U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood of Illinois and Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, will travel the nation recruiting candidates in key swing districts and helping them build successful campaigns.
- Republicans hold a four-seat majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies, including two in GOP districts.
Context: In picking Crow, DCCC chair Suzan DelBene (D-Washington state) cited his ability to flip a former Republican-held seat in Colorado's 6th District and his combat military service.
- In the 2024 cycle, he supported 12 congressional candidates and 16 state legislative candidates, many with backgrounds in military and foreign policy, his aides tell us.
- Two-thirds of the candidates he endorsed won their races.
The intrigue: In a recent Aurora town hall, Crow outlined his vision for the party's future — and suggested the key is to appeal to voters who supported Trump or sat out the 2024 election, including blue-collar workers.
- "We can't push people away," Crow told the capacity crowd of 1,300. "We have to be willing to welcome them back, and to be open-minded, even if we don't always agree with them all the time. That is our problem. It is time to band together to expand our tent."
Yes, but: This middle-way thinking is sure to clash with progressives in the party who feel like Democrats could win more seats if they took a more aggressive approach.
What we're watching: The Democratic leadership post puts Crow in an elevated position for higher office, either if Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet runs for governor or to succeed U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who is seeking only one more term in 2026.