| __________________________________________________________________________ Socialist congressional candidate Melat Kiros defeats longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado primary in another blow to establishment Dems ========================================================================= By Victor Nava Published July 1, 2026, 12:15 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Insurgent socialist candidate Melat Kiros defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) Tuesday in Colorado’s 1st District House primary, marking the latest blow to the establishment wing of the Democratic Party. Kiros came out on top of the incumbent, 49.3% to 43.5%, by the time the Associated Press called the race late Tuesday. Kiros’s win in the solidly blue district follows a string of victories by socialist and far-left candidates over incumbent and establishment-backed Democrats in New York in June, and it’s expected to tilt the political makeup of the House Democratic caucus even further to the left after the midterm elections. Melat Kiros speaks at a League of Women Voters candidate forum. 3 Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, has faced criticism for her anti-Israel views and refusal ... Melat Kiros Colorado socialist Melat Kiros refused to call firebombing of Jewish rally antisemitic, blasted Israel as apartheid An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Alaska Senate candidate Dan Sullivan poses on a hike, Image 2 shows Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks to reporters at the Capitol Alaska court allows second Dan Sullivan back on Senate ballot in blow to Republicans “We need a strong, bold, hardened leader who will hold Trump accountable, and when we win the majority in November, will have real power to move the US to a more just and affordable America … That leader is me,” DeGette argued. DeGette boasted endorsements from Colorado’s Democratic congressional delegation, the House Progressive Caucus, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and several prominent labor unions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters Monday that DeGette was “forcefully making her case” for re-election while cautioning, “We’ll see what happens.” Jeffries went on to blame President Trump for the “unsettled electoral environment” wreaking havoc on incumbent Democrats, according to CBS News. With Trump being in office, “It’s not a surprise that there are highly competitive primaries in deep blue parts of the country that are also unfolding this cycle,” the Brooklyn Democrat said. the Denver area in Congress since before Kiros was born. Denver Post via Getty Images Kiros, an Ethiopia-born Ph.D. student and former attorney backed by socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), slammed Democratic leadership throughout her campaign. “The reality is Democrats have the worst approval rating we’ve had in decades, because we’ve failed to actually do anything for working people,” Kiros said at the candidate forum. “In order for the Democratic Party to actually fulfill its progressive agenda, we need to have members that are unbought and unafraid to stand up to the billionaires and corporations.” Kiros listed her top five issues as “Medicare for all. Housing first. Universal child care. Abolishing ICE. And more than anything … publicly financed elections,” in a recent interview with controversial lefty podcaster Hasan Piker. In that same interview, Kiros described Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as an “inevitable consequence” of Israel’s actions. Supporters at a primary election night watch party celebrating Melat Kiros's lead, with confetti falling and people holding noisemakers and drinks. 3 Kiros supporters cheered after the socialist opened up an early lead on DeGette shortly after polls closed in Colorado. AP Photo/Rebecca Slezak ... Kiros is expected to cruise in the general election, as Colorado’s 1st District is rated solidly Democratic by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. She’ll likely be joined in Congress by New York City’s lefty trio of former DSA member Brad Lander and current DSA members Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire ... establishment-aligned candidates in the primary race to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez. However, the socialists were less lucky in another Centennial State race Tuesday. ... Incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) emerged victorious in the Colorado Democratic Senate primary over state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Filed under ... Melat Kiros speaks at a League of Women Voters candidate forum. Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, has faced criticism for her anti-Israel views and refusal to describe the firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Boulder as antisemitic. Denver Post via Getty Images Diana DeGette speaking at a League of Women Voters forum. DeGette has served ... Supporters at a primary election night watch party celebrating Melat Kiros's lead, with confetti falling and people holding noisemakers and drinks. Kiros supporters cheered after the socialist opened up an early lead on DeGette shortly after polls closed in Colorado. AP Photo/Rebecca Slezak You are viewing 1 of 3 images Previous Image Next Image ... |
|