Jeff Crank

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - It's been arguably the most heated race for Colorado's 5th Congressional District ever. Political ads in every commercial break, mailers filling up your mailbox; everyone has heard about this race.

READ MORE: The big race on the ballot: KRDO13 sits down with Jeff Crank and Jessica Killin to talk about issues in southern Colorado

Running for the Republicans is incumbent Jeff Crank. In 2024, Rep. Crank beat out Democratic Challenger River Gassen by 50,000 votes.

In KRDO13's sit-down interview with Rep. Crank, he said the biggest issue facing his constituents is affordability.

"Well, there's no doubt I think it's affordability. It's been a difficult road for the last many years," Rep. Crank said. "We've got to do more to put more money into the hands of the citizens of El Paso County."

READ MORE: Yes, you are seeing more campaign ads than normal in Colorado Springs

Jessica Killin won the democratic nomination this past June, defeating Joe Regan by 16,000 votes. Killin has not held political office before.

In KRDO13's sit-down interview with Killin, she also said the biggest issue facing Southern Coloradans is affordability.

"I think the biggest challenge facing everyone here in El Paso County and across southern Colorado is cost of living," Killin said. "That's something that I'm very focused on: rolling up my sleeves, delivering results. People are sick of partisanship. They want actual results from their government."

READ MORE: KRDO13 Investigates: The waiver that started a slew of campaign attack ads

This year, the 5th Congressional District has been mired in negative advertising, better known as attack ads.

Both candidates have publicly taken issue with some of the attack ads that have filled up airwaves and mailboxes.

READ MORE: KRDO13 Investigates: Candidate for CO-5 says campaign ads created safety concerns for family

Those ads have certainly been filling up the airwaves. Federal Election Commission Data shows more than $15 million has been spent in CO-5 for this election. That includes spending by both campaigns and outside groups like Super PACs, supporting or opposing a candidate.

In 2024, less than $2 million was spent on the race. CO-5 election spending jumped more than sevenfold in two years.

"In CO-5, we have kind of been, I don't know, we've been let off the hook for most of these congressional races anyway because it hasn't been very close in the past. We are seeing a close race. Hence, we're seeing the negative ads that a lot of other congressional districts around the country are used to," Dr. Sara Hagedorn, a UCCS political science professor, said.

Few polls have been published in CO-5, and almost all have been funded by the Killin Campaign or another Democratic organization. However, those polls, which have been compiled in the New York Times, show a dead heat heading into election night.

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Michael Logerwell is a weekend anchor and member of the KRDO13 Investigates team. Learn more about him here.

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