Melat Kiros, a Democratic socialist, has won the primary election for Colorado's 1st congressional district, defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette. Kiros's victory makes her the 28th candidate endorsed by a far-left organization to win a Democratic primary this election cycle.
Kiros, supported by groups including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Working Families Party (WFP), and Justice Democrats, ran in a solidly blue district where Republican challengers are expected to have limited success in the general election. If all such candidates win their November races, they could form a bloc of 43 members in the House of Representatives, potentially influencing the balance of power within the Democratic Party.
The race saw Kiros, who was born after DeGette was first sworn into Congress in January 1997, defeat the 15-term representative by nearly 10 points, according to The Associated Press. DeGette had supported policies such as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and implementing Medicare-for-All, positions largely aligned with Kiros's platform.
A key divergence between the candidates was their stance on Israel. DeGette has been a supporter of the nation and advocated for a two-state solution. Kiros, however, has taken a more critical approach, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and advocating for a full U.S. arms embargo on the country, including against defensive systems like the Iron Dome. Kiros also drew attention for remarks suggesting the U.S. shares culpability in the 9/11 terror attacks, stating that U.S. actions in the Middle East contributed to conditions that could lead to violence.
Before her political campaign, Kiros was dismissed from her role at the Sidley Austin law firm in 2023 following the publication of an open letter criticizing law firms for their responses to antisemitism on college campuses.
