Melat Kiros, the Democratic congressional nominee for Colorado's 1st District, has pushed back against Republican criticisms linking her to communism within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Kiros, who recently defeated 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette in the primary, stated that these attacks are a Republican strategy to curb the increasing appeal of the socialist movement's economic platform.
During an interview on PBS's “Firing Line,” Kiros addressed concerns that some DSA members, including a portion of its national leadership, identify as communists. She drew a parallel to members within the Democratic Party who identify as capitalists, emphasizing the party's broad tent. "At the end of the day, it's up to the voters, right?" Kiros said. "Until a self-proclaimed communist actually wins an election, then it's just noise from the Republican Party. There's no one who's actually winning with that."
When asked directly if she was a communist, Kiros responded, "No, I'm not a communist." She suggested that the Republican Party's focus on this issue stems from a concern that the DSA's economic messaging is resonating with a growing number of voters. "Because I think the Republican Party, and frankly, the oligarchy that largely stands behind the Republican Party can see that our message of, in its most basic form, economic populism, is actually resonating with voters," Kiros stated.
Kiros, 29, is among the 28 candidates endorsed by a far-left group to win a Democratic primary this cycle. If elected, these nominees could join 18 incumbent progressives, potentially forming a 43-member bloc in the House of Representatives.
The DSA's National Political Committee, its primary leadership body, has advanced policy proposals such as abolishing the Senate, replacing the president and Supreme Court with Congress-selected institutions, granting amnesty to all undocumented immigrants, and defunding the Department of War. Kiros clarified that individual members do not necessarily endorse every aspect of the organization's platform, which is decided through a democratic member vote. "And it's one where it is almost certain that not every single member actually agrees with the entirety of the platform," she explained.
While Kiros expressed support for planks like Medicare-for-all and universal childcare, she indicated disagreement with other DSA proposals, including abolishing the Senate, withdrawing from NATO, and defunding the police. She also voiced support for a 32-hour workweek. Kiros defended her socialist philosophy, asserting that "Socialism has proven to deliver on the values of the Declaration of Independence more than capitalism has."
In addition to policy debates, Kiros has faced scrutiny over her stance on Israel. Jewish leaders in Denver have reportedly expressed heightened safety concerns, citing her initial hesitation to label a Boulder firebombing as antisemitic and her past accusations of genocide and apartheid against Israel.
Nationally, the DSA continues to grow, with new figures emerging in leadership roles. However, a July Fox News poll indicated that 56% of registered voters hold an unfavorable view of the organization, while 31% view it favorably. Among Democrats surveyed, 59% expressed a favorable opinion of the DSA, with 26% viewing it unfavorably.