Democratic socialist Kiros ends DeGette’s nearly 30-year run in Congress with primary upset

Democratic socialist Melat Kiros scored a major political upset Tuesday, defeating longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary.

Kiros’ victory ends the incumbent’s three-decade tenure in Congress. DeGette has represented the Denver-based district since 1997 and has served 15 terms.

Kiros, 29, also defeated University of Colorado Regent Wanda James in the three-way contest, capitalizing on growing calls for generational change in one of Colorado’s safest Democratic districts.

With the district heavily favoring Democrats, Kiros is expected to enter the November general election as the overwhelming favorite.

The 29-year-old attorney and first-time candidate built her campaign around a message that the district needed fresh leadership after nearly 30 years represented by the same member of Congress. Running as a democratic socialist, she called for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, expanded affordable housing and stronger labor protections. She also made U.S. policy toward Israel a central issue of her campaign, calling for an end to all U.S. military aid to Israel and describing the war in Gaza as “the moral question of our time.”

Her campaign gained momentum in its closing weeks with support from progressive organizations, including Justice Democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America, while attracting thousands of small-dollar donors and volunteers.

“They can’t stop us from building this movement,” Kiros told MS NOW on Sunday.

The race became one of Colorado’s most closely watched primaries as progressive groups invested heavily in their effort to defeat one of the state’s longest-serving Congress members. The contest reflected broader ideological divisions within the Democratic Party, where younger, left-wing challengers have increasingly targeted veteran incumbents.

Despite advantages in fundraising, endorsements and name recognition, DeGette struggled to overcome an anti-incumbent mood among some Democratic voters eager for younger leadership.

DeGette, first elected to Congress in 1996, campaigned on her legislative experience and seniority, arguing she was best positioned to deliver results for Colorado. She highlighted her work on abortion rights, health care, biomedical research and climate policy and said her experience would be particularly valuable if Democrats regained control of the House. During the campaign, DeGette also emphasized she would be in line for greater leadership responsibilities, including chairing the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

James campaigned on her experience as a business owner and military veteran She pitched herself as a pragmatic Democrat focused on economic opportunity, entrepreneurship and public safety but finished behind both Kiros and DeGette.

A recent poll conducted ahead of Election Day by American Priorities and Justice Democrats suggested the race had tightened in the closing days of the campaign, showing Kiros leading DeGette 41% to 36%.

Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, which has not elected a Republican to Congress in decades, encompasses most of Denver and portions of Arapahoe County. DeGette routinely has won the district by wide margins in both primary and general elections.

With Tuesday’s victory, e advances to the November general election as the overwhelming favorite to retain the seat and continue one of the longest congressional tenures in Colorado history.

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