Democratic socialist Kiros defeats longtime incumbent in Colorado primary | Politics News
Melat Kiros Defeats Veteran Congressman DeGette in Colorado Primary
Published July 1, 2026
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros has upset 15-term U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for a Denver-area congressional district, as reported by various media outlets. Kiros, 29, led by nearly 7,000 votes with 78 percent of ballots counted.
Kiros, who immigrated from Ethiopia as an infant, has garnered attention for her strong criticism of Democrats who support Israel amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, labeling those actions as genocidal. This stance, along with her association with socialist commentator Hasan Piker, has stirred controversy during her campaign.
Given the district’s Democratic leanings, Kiros is now viewed as the frontrunner for the November election.
Previously a lawyer, Kiros lost her job after refusing to retract a social media post that criticized law firms for their positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Kiros’s win is part of a broader trend this election season, as a number of democratic socialists have successfully ousted establishment Democrats. In New York City, three candidates with connections to the Democratic Socialists of America, endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also secured their positions in recent primaries.
In other news from Tuesday’s primary elections, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, according to media projections. Weiser’s campaign focused on his legal battles against the Trump administration, particularly regarding federal funding issues and challenges to birthright citizenship.
Weiser is expected to be a strong contender in the general election this November.
Additionally, State Representative Manny Rutinel has secured the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Representative Gabe Evans in a competitive district that Democrats view as a prime opportunity for flipping a seat. Rutinel, a progressive, defeated former state Representative Shannon Bird in a race primarily focused on immigration issues.
As the election cycle progresses, the Republican Party maintains a slim majority in both the U.S. House and Senate. Democrats need to gain three seats to reclaim control of the House and four seats for the Senate in the upcoming elections.