CBS4 News ' Jessup hands 5th Congressional District to Republican primary winner 3 months early

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

CBS4's Terry Jessup stated that the Republican primary in Colorado's 5th district would decide “who will replace [current Rep.] Joel Hefley, the Republican, come November.” Jessup made no mention of the fact that the general election, which will include Democratic candidate Jay Fawcett, will actually determine who will “replace” Hefley in November.

In an August 8 report on KCNC's CBS4 News at 6 p.m., CBS4 reporter and political specialist Terry Jessup stated that the Republican primary in Colorado's 5th Congressional District would decide “who will replace [current Rep.] Joel Hefley [Colorado Springs], the Republican, come November.” Jessup made no mention of the fact that the general election, which will include Democratic candidate and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jay Fawcett, will actually determine who will “replace” Hefley in November. In a subsequent report on CBS4 News at 10 p.m., co-anchor Jim Benemann accurately reported that the winner of the Republican primary “will be facing Democrat Jay Fawcett in November.”

After CBS4's August 8 reports, state Sen. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs) won the 5th district primary.

As the Rocky Mountain News rep orted on August 9, "[t]he 5th District is heavily Republican, giving Lamborn a commanding advantage in the November race against Democrat Jay Fawcett." Nevertheless, Jessup's remarks suggested that Lamborn's victory in the primary will automatically result in him gaining Hefley's seat in Congress.

From the August 8 broadcast of Denver's KCNC CBS4 News at 6 p.m.:

BENEMANN: CBS4 political specialist Terry Jessup is live in Arvada with the latest from the 7th Congressional District, and Terry, you're watching -- the whole world's watching this one.

JESSUP: That's right, Jim, they are. There are actually two congressional race primaries to watch in the state of Colorado tonight -- one in the 5th District in Colorado Springs to see who will replace Joel Hefley, the Republican, come November. The other, right here in the 7th Congressional District, and this one will be one of the most closely watched in the country because both parties are certain that they can win it.

From the August 8 broadcast of KCNC's CBS4 News at 10 p.m.:

MOLLY HUGHES (co-anchor): In Southern Colorado, voters have six Republicans to choose from in the 5th Congressional District.

BENEMANN: The 5th District swings conservative, no doubt about it. It includes Colorado Springs and areas just to the west.

Incumbent congressman Joel Hefley is retiring. In the Republican primary, Jeff Crank, who spent several years working for Hefley back in Washington, now leading a crowded field. The winner will be facing Democrat Jay Fawcett in November.