Democratic socialist Melat Kiros upsets 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado primary
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15‑term U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for a Denver‑area congressional district, multiple U.S. media outlets projected after 78% of votes were counted. Kiros led DeGette by nearly 7,000 votes, marking another high‑profile victory for the progressive left this election cycle.
A 29‑year‑old former lawyer who emigrated from Ethiopia as an infant, Kiros has drawn attention for her criticism of Democrats who support Israel and for her public alliance with political commentator Hasan Piker. She was fired from a law firm after refusing to remove a post criticizing law firms’ positions on Israel and Palestine, and she has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Kiros is now favored to win the November general election in the heavily Democratic district.
Kiros is the latest democratic socialist to unseat an establishment Democrat this summer. In New York City, three candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani also won primaries on Tuesday.
Other key Colorado results
- Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, according to media projections. Weiser outraised and outspent Bennet and campaigned on his record of suing the Trump administration over federal funding freezes and attempts to challenge birthright citizenship. He is widely expected to win the governorship in November.
- State Representative Manny Rutinel secured the Democratic nomination in a competitive Denver‑area battleground district and will challenge Republican Rep. Gabe Evans in November. Rutinel a progressive who focused his campaign on immigration beat moderate Shannon Bird. The district is nearly 40% Latino. Evans narrowly won in 2024 and holds a large cash advantage, reporting about $3.4 million on hand versus Rutinel’s $910,000.
Why it matters
- The wins reinforce a broader trend of progressive and democratic socialist candidates scoring primary victories against establishment Democrats.
- Control of Congress remains at stake: Republicans hold narrow majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, meaning Democrats must gain three House seats and four Senate seats to retake control in November.
