Jeff Crank has defeated Democrat River Gassen in Colorado's 5th Congressional District, CBS News projects. The Republican is poised to serve his first term in Congress and succeed Rep. Doug Lamborn.
CD5 covers El Paso County including the Colorado Springs metro area and has never had a representative from a party other than the GOP since it was created following the 1970 U.S. Census.
Lamborn represented CD5 for nine terms before announcing in January that he would not run for re-election.
5th Congressional District candidate Jeff Crank is introduced during a meet and greet at the Brandt Barn in Black Forest in June.
AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Crank worked as an activist for the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity before becoming a radio personality in southern Colorado. He defeated Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams in the CD5 primary in June.
River Gassen is an educator and scientist who said she decided to run for Congress after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. She is a strong supporter of women's right to choose.
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