Democratic socialist Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old first-time candidate, defeated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District primary on June 30, marking a significant shift in the state’s congressional representation and adding momentum to a national wave of progressive challenges to establishment Democrats.
DeGette, first elected to Congress in 1996, had rarely faced serious primary challengers in her nearly 30-year career representing Denver. Kiros’ victory came on the heels of similar upsets in New York, where democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in the 13th District last week. Both races reflected growing frustration among Democratic voters with party leadership in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election.
Kiros immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia as a baby and worked as an associate at a large law firm in New York City before being fired in 2023 for writing a letter criticizing law firms’ response to Hamas’s attack on Israel. She later became a PhD student and barista before launching her campaign against DeGette on a message of generational change and removing corporate influence from politics. Both Kiros and Chevalier made pro-Palestine activism central to their campaigns.
Though Kiros and DeGette were largely aligned on major policy issues—both opposed the Trump administration’s immigration agenda and supported Medicare for All—Kiros singled out DeGette’s acceptance of campaign funds from corporate political action committees, particularly from the healthcare industry. DeGette, 68, is the top Democrat on an influential subcommittee overseeing healthcare and has pledged to hold hearings on Medicare for All if Democrats retake the House, but she argued that corporate contributions did not influence her votes and that her experience was essential to meet current challenges.
Outside groups poured a last-minute influx of money into the race to support DeGette and oppose Kiros. Pro-Choice Majority Action, a PAC linked to Elect Democratic Women, spent over $1.5 million in the final two weeks of the campaign. Despite this spending, Kiros prevailed in a district that encompasses most of Denver and is heavily Democratic, positioning her as the Democratic nominee for the general election in November.
Kiros is poised to become the first Black woman to represent Colorado in Congress. She, Chevalier, and New York Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who won the Democratic primary for another New York City-based seat, are set to expand the ranks of democratic socialists in Congress. All three were endorsed by Democratic Socialists of America and Justice Democrats, signaling the growing organizational strength of the progressive left within the Democratic Party.
Sources
- The 19th News — Reported Kiros’ victory over DeGette, her background as an Ethiopian immigrant and fired law firm associate, both candidates’ policy positions, outside spending by Pro-Choice Majority Action, and the broader context of democratic socialist victories against progressive incumbents.
- Colorado Public Radio — Confirmed Kiros defeated DeGette in the primary and noted DeGette’s nearly 30-year career with few serious primary challengers.
- Axios — Reported that Kiros is poised to become the first Black woman to represent Colorado in Congress.
- NPR — Confirmed Kiros as a political newcomer who topped DeGette in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.
- The Guardian — Characterized Kiros as a democratic socialist who defeated the 15-term incumbent in Denver’s district.
