Melat Kiros, a first-time Democratic socialist, defeated U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in a Colorado House primary Tuesday, a surprise victory over a nearly 30-year incumbent and another success for progressive competitors throughout the country.
Kiros, 29, a lawyer and now a doctorate student, is the latest contender to rise from the party’s left flank to defeat establishment-backed politicians. This includes two self-proclaimed democratic socialists and a progressive who won Democratic primaries in New York last week.
Kiros’ win is part of a fledgling but apparent revolt, driven by some voter anger, that has troubled party leadership. Kiros is projected to win in November and make it to Congress in January, representing the dark blue metropolis of Denver in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.
"We're winning coast to coast," Kiros shouted to an exuberant crowd and a blast of air horns. “We are reclaiming our party and our country!”
Other races for progressives on Tuesday had varied results.
Sen. John Hickenlooper survived a primary battle from state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a self-described “insurgent progressive.” In the state’s only swing district, the two Democrats running for U.S. House were separated by a narrower margin, with the more progressive of the two, state Rep. Manny Rutinel, prevailing.
Under a placard reading “Power to the People,” Kiros went on stage and informed her fans her victory was theirs.
It’s a movement,” Kiros said. “We're just getting started.”
She told an exuberant crowd, which had been singing and dancing moments before she stepped on stage, what she planned to do: take the battle to “Donald Trump and the oligarchy,” abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pass “Medicare for all” and end the “genocide in Palestine.”
Among those she praised were DeGette, for fighting for women’s rights, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who endorsed her.
DeGette, a more progressive lawmaker herself, easily held her House seat in Denver for nearly 30 years, supported by Colorado’s established Democratic House delegation.
The incumbent said Congress needs experience now to fight Trump, while Kiros, a former attorney, accused DeGette of being useless.
DeGette did not speak or issue a statement Tuesday night after the race was called.
A more progressive lawmaker herself, DeGette held her Denver House seat for nearly 30 years and had the backing of Colorado’s long-established Democratic House delegation.
The current lawmaker said that the country needs someone with expertise in Congress right now to fight Trump, while Kiros, a former attorney, said DeGette has been ineffectual.
DeGette did not make a remark or speak after the race was called Tuesday night.
Hickenlooper dodges a challenge from the left His triumph was no surprise to the political world, but it did put a damper on a broader wave of progressive candidates beating establishment-backed Democrats around the country.
Gonzales, the state senator who opposed the more centrist Hickenlooper, had blasted him for being a “incrementalist” and stated she had previously joined the Democratic Socialists of America but her membership had lapsed.
After winning, Hickenlooper instantly pivoted to Trump, saying he has never lost an election and doesn’t plan to in November.
The people of Colorado have spoken loud and clear. “We are not going to tolerate Trump’s broken promises and cost of living crisis, or his incessant corruption,” he stated in a video posted to YouTube.
Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is one of the country’s newest, running from the northern suburbs of Denver into farmland, and has switched between parties in recent elections.
Evans presently occupies the seat after defeating the Democratic incumbent in 2024.
Party leaders believe the more moderate former state representative Shannon Bird was best positioned to take on Evans. But Tuesday night, Rutinel, with the more progressive record, defeated Bird.
The district is disproportionately Hispanic and poorer than much of the rest of the state, and there Rutinel, who is Latino, put a flag, saying his personal story and more forceful economic program would be more potent against Evans.
“This is the time for all the kids out there that had the deck stacked against them,” Rutinel stated in his victory speech. “I’m going to work with everything I have to make sure those kids have the same opportunities to realize the American Dream I had.”
Progressive may get new friend in governor’s mansion Phil Weiser, the state attorney general, won the Democratic primary Tuesday and is projected to win in November. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who is term-limited after two terms, has left with a more moderate touch, often thwarting progressive state lawmakers.
Weiser, a former staffer in the presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, is seen to be more sympathetic to the party’s left. Michael Bennet, the U.S. senator Weiser defeated Tuesday, would likely have made a similar move.
Weiser and Bennet had a hard time finding substantial contrasts in their political agendas on the campaign trail, often attacking each other instead on who could best stand up to Trump.
Weiser was making his case during a victory speech to exuberant, sign-waving fans who surrounded the candidate.
“The Trump administration is trying to intimidate us, rip away our rights and freedoms in a lawless bullying,” Weiser said. “You made it clear that we need a leader who will fight back and never bend the knee.
Bennet addressed his supporters after his defeat. “Sometimes the more difficult road is the right road, even if it doesn’t take you where you’d hoped,” he remarked.
The three contenders vying for the Republican nomination included state Rep. Scott Bottoms, an even more right-wing state lawmaker. Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer was regarded the more traditional Republican while Victor Marx was a bit of a wild card candidate with an eclectic background.
