Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and first-time candidate, defeated 15-term U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District primary on June 30, defeating the longtime incumbent in a stunning upset that reflects a broader wave of progressive challenges to Democratic establishment figures.
The race was called by multiple media outlets after 78 percent of votes were counted, with Kiros holding a nearly 7,000-vote lead. She will now face Republican nominee Christy Peterson in November’s general election in the heavily Democratic Denver-area district, where she is favored to win.
Kiros, who moved to the United States from Ethiopia as a baby, is a former corporate attorney and current PhD student at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs. She grew up in Aurora, Colorado, watching her parents navigate life as immigrants.
In 2023, Kiros was fired from her job as a lawyer after writing an open letter criticizing law firms for their stance on Israel and Palestine. She has since called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide and has become a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, which became a central issue in her primary campaign against DeGette.
Kiros is the second democratic socialist to beat an incumbent progressive in recent months, according to The 19th News. Her victory follows a wave of DSA-backed candidates winning races across the country. In New York City, three candidates with ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani won congressional primaries this month. Democratic socialists have also been elected as mayors of Washington, D.C., New York City, and Seattle, signaling growing momentum for the left wing of the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Socialists of America traces its roots to the early 1970s and was founded in 1982 with the goal of boosting worker power and pushing corporate influence out of Democratic politics, according to Colorado Public Radio. The organization grew slowly for decades before expanding dramatically from 5,000 to more than 100,000 members on the strength of Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
Kiros’ Platform and Background
Kiros has emphasized rejecting corporate influence and providing universal public services like Medicare for All and public housing. In an interview with Colorado Public Radio, she argued that basic needs like healthcare, housing, and education should be guaranteed in a wealthy country. “For me, socialism is about making it clear: We have basic needs,” she said, listing housing, healthcare, nutritional food, public education, and access to transportation and internet as essential services.
She has also criticized mainstream Democrats for focusing too heavily on President Donald Trump, arguing that he is a symptom rather than the cause of systemic problems. “Fighting Trump is just one piece of the problem,” Kiros said during a primary debate, according to Colorado Public Radio. “Trump is not the cause. He’s a symptom of a system that is broken.”
Gaza and Israel policy emerged as a defining issue in the race. Kiros has staunchly criticized Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 70,000 people in response to a Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 people. She described the Hamas attack as an “inevitable consequence” of Israeli policies and has argued that the United States should end military and economic aid to Israel. Her criticism of Democrats’ support for Israel resonated with voters in Denver’s increasingly progressive district.
DeGette, who was first elected in 1996, had represented the district for 30 years. The race highlighted a generational and ideological split within the Democratic Party, with Kiros representing a younger, more left-leaning faction pushing out an establishment figure who had long been considered one of Colorado’s most senior and influential Democrats.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — confirmed Kiros defeated DeGette with 78 percent of votes counted and a 7,000-vote lead; noted Kiros is a former lawyer fired for criticizing Israel; reported she is favored in the general election
- Colorado Public Radio — provided Kiros’ age (29), background as attorney and PhD student, her statements on socialism and corporate influence, debate quotes, and context on DSA history and membership growth
- The 19th News — confirmed Kiros is the second democratic socialist to beat an incumbent progressive; noted broader wave of DSA victories in NYC and mayoral races
- AP News — confirmed the primary result and described it as a stunning victory for the first-time candidate
- The Guardian — confirmed the 15-term incumbent status and the primary result
