Socialists sweep Denver as Melat Kiros defeats longtime House Democrat Diana DeGette in primary

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), a 15-term incumbent, lost the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday to socialist opponent Melat Kiros.

The race was the latest test of voters’ appetite for candidates who align with the Democratic Socialists of America after victories in New York City and Washington, D.C., including the ouster of Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY).

DeGette, who’s served in Washington since 1997, can now be added to that list.

As of early Wednesday morning, with 84% of the vote, the race was called for Kiros, as DeGette trailed 29-year-old Kiros 49.3% to 43.5%, according to the Associated Press. Kiros had 58,337 votes to DeGette’s 51,459 when the race was called.

The 68-year-old DeGette was the target of those calling for generational change. Kiros, a former attorney who immigrated to the Denver area from Ethiopia as a young child, was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

The district encompasses Denver and heavily favors Democrats, so Kiros is almost certain to win the November general election and become the latest DSA-backed politician serving in Congress. Candidates supported by the organization have notched victories in more than 30 races this cycle, according to the group’s tracker.

U.S. support for Israel was among the wedge issues in the primary. Kiros has questioned the right for Israel to exist as a Jewish state and was fired in 2023 from a New York law firm for denying the view was antisemitic. Her rhetoric has been denounced by Jewish leaders in Denver, and she’s sidestepped how it may have impacted the deadly fire-bombing last year of Jewish protesters in Boulder, Colorado.