Radio personality Jeff Crank, a Republican, and researcher and educator River Gassen, a Democrat, will compete in November to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Crank previously worked as the CEO of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, and in Washington D.C., has a congressional staffer during the 1990s.

Gassen worked as a researcher at NASA and teaches astronomy and solar energy science at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

The two are competing to represent the right-leaning district that encompasses Colorado Springs and most of the surrounding communities including Monument, Manitou Springs and Fountain. The district is home to about 94,000 veterans, five military installations and numerous defense contractors. All are heavily dependent on congressional support.

Crank has outraised and outspent his competition, with $605,586 in donations and $484,558 in campaign expenses as of the end of June, according to Open Secrets, a database that tracks money in politics. His Democratic challenger, Gassen, had raised $66,566 and spent $62,369. In interviews with The Gazette’s Weekend Round-Up Podcast, the two candidates outlined some of their priorities and motivations for running. They also provided written answers to Gazette questions.

Crank said he would prioritize immigration and securing the border. After visiting the U.S.-Mexico border, he said he was struck with how unfair the situation is to those immigrants who have traveled huge distances on foot and in some cases have been trafficked.

The U.S. needs to stop sending a signal that if those people come, they will get in. Greater support for U.S. Customs and Border Protection also is needed, and Crank supports walls in strategic areas.

Gassen said she would like to see more resources going to help those seeking asylum to shorten wait times and a streamlined work visa process for immigrants. She also wants to see better enforcement to stop illegal activity, such as drug trafficking.

To tackle inflation, Crank said the federal government needs to address its spending and eliminate its large deficit. He proposed potentially getting rid of the Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Economic Development Administration along with the Amtrak subsidy as cost-saving measures.

“We need to examine whether those things are things the federal government should be paying for and as we eliminate those then we will see that surplus start to grow,” he said. Gassen said in a written statement she would work with unions to develop skilled labor fill gaps in the supply chain. She also said companies should be held accountable for exorbitant profit margins.

On health care, Crank said in a statement, laws need to encourage affordable private insurance, lower drug prices and better access to care. Everyone should be allowed to participate in health savings accounts and physicians should be allowed to own hospitals to increase competition.

Gassen said on her website she supports a transition to a single-payer health care system. Private insurance would be eliminated under such a system.

Both said they would prioritize the needs of veterans. Crank said he would like to expand both care in the community and the Veterans Health Administration.

Gassen pointed out that the high rate of suicide must be addressed in the veteran population.

Voters will also see competitors from several smaller political parties in the race, including Christopher Mitchell, with the American Constitution party, Christopher Sweat, with the Forward party, Michael Keith Vance, a Libertarian, and Joseph Gaye, an unaffiliated.

The 5th Congressional District has been represented by Republicans since its inception.

Contact the writer at mary.shinn@gazettedev.gazette.com or (719) 429-9264.