Colorado’s 5th Congressional District House Race 2026

Colorado, once a reliable Republican state, has leaned decidedly Democratic in recent cycles, and 2026 looks similar. Gov. Phil Weiser and Sen. John Hickenlooper are favored for easy wins over underfunded Republican opponents Victor Marx and Mark Baisley, with some GOP figures, including former Rep. Ken Buck, crossing over to back Weiser. The closest races are in the U.S. House: Democrat Manny Rutinel is seen as favored over Republican incumbent Gabe Evans in District 8, while Republican incumbent Jeff Crank is expected to hold District 5 against well-funded Democrat Jessica Killin despite backlash over the Space Command relocation. Analysts attribute the overall Democratic advantage to anti-Trump sentiment and weak Republican statewide recruitment.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank has asked the Justice Department's civil rights division, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to investigate last week's anti-ICE student walkout in Denver after the demonstration turned violent. In a Tuesday letter, Crank raised concerns about whether outside groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible and 50501 Colorado helped organize, fund, or influence the protest, and whether counterprotesters and journalists were unlawfully prevented from exercising their rights.

More than 160 Colorado schools were expected to take part in the walkout, organized by the Colorado Youth Coalition, in which hundreds of students gathered at La Alma-Lincoln Park to protest ICE enforcement under the Trump administration. Denver police reported five assaults, with three people hospitalized, after students clashed with counterprotesters, including one incident where a man's pro-ICE sign was torn up and another where a woman was punched. Officers cited two people for graffiti and are still investigating. Melat Kiros, Democratic nominee for Colorado's 1st Congressional District, spoke at the rally.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger and member of the House Armed Services Committee, plans to introduce the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act. The bill would authorize the defense secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to establish a joint training and education program with foreign militaries to study lessons from overseas conflicts, including Ukraine, and apply them to battlefield trauma care for U.S. service members and veterans.

The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) and is endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz. An identical provision was already included in both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The program would allow joint conferences, symposia, and professional exchanges among medical professionals. It builds on the Pentagon's Joint Trauma System, established in 2016 to improve battlefield trauma readiness and survival outcomes. Sponsors say continued research partnerships are needed as modern warfare evolves.

Colorado Democrats closed out a six-day, 25-stop statewide bus tour by framing the midterms as a referendum on Donald Trump, betting that voter frustration with his administration will boost turnout. Sen. John Hickenlooper blamed Trump's tariffs, the Iran conflict and health care cuts for a "cost of living catastrophe," while attorney general nominee Jena Griswold pledged to sue to protect voting rights and immigrant communities. Candidates also cited Trump's moves against Colorado, including relocating U.S. Space Command, denying disaster aid and vetoing a water project. Republicans, hampered by infighting, countered that Democrats themselves are to blame for high living costs. Democrats are defending statewide offices and congressional seats while eyeing veto-proof legislative majorities.

The American Postal Workers Union has launched a television ad campaign in North Carolina defending the integrity of mail-in voting ahead of the fall midterm elections. Local union leaders say claims of widespread fraud are unfounded and insulting to postal workers, who they say handle every ballot with care regardless of political preference. A bipartisan poll from Hart Research and North Star Opinion Research found 34% of voters rely on mail-in voting, including nearly half of seniors, while 35% believe it should be abolished amid years of fraud claims from President Donald Trump.

The campaign follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting Trump's proposed restrictions on mailed ballots nationwide, though Attorney General Todd Blanche said the ruling was partly about timing and that election security efforts will continue beyond this cycle. North Carolina election officials say absentee voting procedures remain unchanged, with several security measures in place and voter fraud treated as a felony. Local election officials elsewhere, including in Colorado's El Paso County, note many jurisdictions already use secure, barcode-tracked ballot envelopes, and warn that Trump's proposed uniform verification system could create counting delays or compromise confidential voter protections. Officials expect the issue to resurface before the 2027 election cycle.

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal will retire on March 9, 2027, the exact date he completes 40 years with the department. The fire department announced the planned departure this week, capping a career that began in 1987 and included more than two decades in chief officer roles after he was named battalion chief in 2005.

Royal spent 28 years as a paramedic, delivering 24 babies, and helped establish the department's Tactical Emergency Medical Services program. His tenure spanned major regional events including the 1997 blizzard, the 2007 Cattle West Apartment Fire, the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, and the 2013 Black Forest Fire. He has received two Medals of Distinguished Service, a Firefighter of the Year award, and was named Colorado's Fire Chief of the Year in 2023 and International Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2024. Mayor Yemi Mobolade praised his four decades of service ahead of the transition to new leadership.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade delivered his final state of the city address of his first term Friday, highlighting public safety, growth and affordability. He cited improved police and fire response times through added drones and staffing, and called public safety the foundation of the city. Mobolade noted Colorado Springs posted the largest numerical population increase of any Colorado municipality, about six new residents daily, even as other major cities decline. Crews repaired more than 100,000 potholes over the past year, with more trucks coming. Despite a shortage of roughly 28,000 homes, the mayor said rents have fallen nearly 7% from 2022 peaks, while the city invests hundreds of millions in affordable housing and touts strong business growth.

Toledo Fire and Rescue Chief Allison Armstrong is recovering after being seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday night. Armstrong was in Colorado Springs for a firefighter conference when her SUV was struck from behind on Interstate 225 while traveling around 65 mph; she estimated the other vehicle was going at least 80 mph. The impact pushed her SUV into a concrete barrier wall and spun it around.

Armstrong suffered a fractured sternum, a fractured back, whiplash, and multiple contusions. She credited her airbags and seatbelt with preventing more serious harm. A suspect, 21-year-old Christopher Archuleta-Martinez of Centennial, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who represents the Toledo area, issued a statement wishing Armstrong a full recovery, calling her a dedicated public servant. Armstrong thanked Aurora police and fire personnel and the many well-wishers who reached out following the crash.

Colorado Springs City Council member Dave Donelson has confirmed he will run for mayor in the city's next municipal election, scheduled for April 7, 2027. Speculation grew after his Facebook page was renamed from "Dave Donelson for City Council District 1" to "Dave Donelson Mayor for the people." Donelson, who has represented District 1 since 2021 and was reelected in 2025, said a formal campaign announcement will come in the next few weeks.

In a statement, Donelson, a father, grandfather, and former Green Beret, said he has built a reputation for listening to constituents and fighting for neighborhoods and businesses, and argued the city needs a mayor with similar values. He joins a growing field for the race, which already includes incumbent Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Stan VanderWerf, John "Tig" Tiegen, and Democrat Glen Shaw. Three at-large council seats will also be on the April 2027 ballot.