Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and former corporate attorney, is mounting the most serious primary challenge Diana DeGette has faced in her 30 years representing Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, testing whether progressive momentum from recent wins in New York can reach beyond the nation’s largest cities.
The June 30 Democratic primary in Denver pits the three-term incumbent against Kiros, who was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders late last week, and University of Colorado Regent Wanda James. Polling shows the race is neck and neck, with some surveys indicating Kiros may be leading the 15-term congresswoman who has never come close to losing a primary before.
Kiros has tapped into national discontent among Democratic voters toward incumbents and leveraged her social media savviness into a campaign that has DeGette’s supporters nervous. She is part of a nationwide movement of younger Democrats taking on older, more establishment party leaders—a strategy that scored major victories just days ago in New York.
On June 24, three progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Democratic House primaries in New York, with two defeating incumbents, according to reporting from NPR and PBS NewsHour. That sweep emboldened Kiros’ national backers. Within hours of the New York wins, fellow candidates backed by Justice Democrats took to their group chat to discuss how they could boost Kiros through fundraising and campaigning, according to CNN reporting.
The race has drawn millions in outside spending. As of late Friday, outside groups had spent a combined $3.1 million in the past month—all in support of either DeGette or Kiros—according to The Denver Post. About $2.4 million of that has gone to support DeGette or oppose Kiros, with Pro-Choice Majority Action spending more than $1.5 million in support of the incumbent. Justice Democrats has spent $515,000 supporting Kiros, while American Priorities, a pro-Palestinian group, paid $150,000 for TV ads backing her.
DeGette’s narrow qualification for the ballot at the Democratic assembly in March—when she received about 33% of delegate votes, just barely crossing the 30% threshold—sent a warning signal. Kiros outperformed her at that same assembly, according to The Colorado Sun, signaling early strength among party activists. The congresswoman responded by purchasing ad time earlier than usual, touting her progressive credentials by featuring video of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praising her work on Medicare for All.
The Central Divide: Israel and Corporate Money
Beyond their generational divide, the candidates differ most sharply on U.S. policy toward Israel. DeGette has called for a two-state solution, while Kiros wants the country to no longer be a Jewish state, arguing it currently operates as an ethnocracy. Kiros has also faced criticism from Colorado’s Jewish community for her comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She declined in a recent 9News interview to call a deadly firebombing of Jewish demonstrators in Boulder an act of antisemitism, saying she did not know the perpetrator’s motivations, according to The Colorado Sun.
On most other policy issues, the two are largely aligned. Both support Medicare for All, universal childcare, and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DeGette is herself a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus with a track record of supporting abortion rights and environmental justice. Kiros’ main critique is that DeGette’s acceptance of corporate donations undermines her ability to fight for progressive policies, a line of attack that has resonated with younger voters frustrated with what they see as a stale Democratic establishment.
The Colorado race comes as Democratic strategists nationwide watch whether the progressive movement’s momentum extends beyond New York. Some warn against reading too much into last week’s results. Ted Trimpa, a longtime Colorado Democratic strategist, cautioned his party against assuming Mamdani’s success in New York will translate elsewhere, telling CNN that “Mamdani is not the messiah for Democrats.” Colorado has roughly half its voters unaffiliated and has historically elected more moderate Democrats willing to buck the party, he noted.
Still, Kiros’ campaign has energized younger progressives. Democratic Socialists of America members in Denver have been canvassing neighborhoods to support her, and national progressive organizations have mobilized resources. The race will be decided on June 30, with results that could signal whether the anti-incumbent energy reshaping Democratic politics in coastal cities is spreading to the Mountain West.
Sources
- The Colorado Sun — Melat Kiros’ background as a 29-year-old democratic socialist, her endorsement by Bernie Sanders, polling showing a neck-and-neck race, DeGette’s narrow assembly qualification, Kiros outperforming DeGette at the assembly, and her comments on the Boulder firebombing.
- CNN — Kiros’ challenge to DeGette, her endorsement by Sanders, the June 24 New York primary wins backed by Mamdani, the three candidates’ policy differences on Israel, and strategist commentary on whether New York momentum translates elsewhere.
- The Denver Post — Outside spending totals of $3.1 million in the past month, breakdown of spending by Pro-Choice Majority Action ($1.5 million+ for DeGette), Justice Democrats ($515,000 for Kiros), and American Priorities ($150,000 for Kiros).
- NPR — Three progressive candidates backed by Zohran Mamdani won their New York House primaries on June 24, 2026, with two defeating incumbents.
- PBS NewsHour — Mamdani-backed candidates swept Democratic primaries in New York, ousting two incumbents from Congress.
