SouthernWorldwide.com – In a significant political upset, a challenger backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has defeated a long-serving incumbent Democrat in a high-profile primary election.
Representative Diana DeGette, a Democrat from Colorado who has held her seat for 30 years, lost to Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist candidate, in a Democratic primary for a House seat in Denver. This victory is being hailed as a major win for the socialist left.
The DSA had been actively promoting DeGette’s loss as a sign of their growing influence, especially after a series of socialist candidates secured victories in Democratic primaries in New York City the previous week.
The DSA had signaled their national ambitions, stating, “Today, the East Coast, next week the Mountain West,” in a social media post. This suggests a broader strategy to challenge established Democratic figures across the country.
If Kiros is elected in November, she is expected to align with “the Squad,” a group of progressive and often outspoken socialist members of the House of Representatives. This would add another voice to the chamber’s far-left contingent.
Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, received endorsements from prominent political figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She also had the backing of Justice Democrats, an organization focused on electing progressive candidates and challenging incumbents.
Additionally, controversial socialist streamer Hasan Piker, known for his provocative statements, also supported Kiros’ primary campaign. Piker has made controversial remarks about Hamas and the Chinese Communist Party.
DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, had campaigned on her progressive credentials, including her support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She sought to secure her 16th term by emphasizing her seniority on influential House committees.
She argued that her experience would be crucial in advancing legislation like Medicare-for-All, a key policy priority for the party’s progressive wing. DeGette was endorsed by former CPC Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal.
DeGette also highlighted her role as an impeachment manager during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in 2021, showcasing her experience in high-stakes political battles.
While DeGette and Kiros shared common ground on many policy issues, their campaign diverged significantly on matters related to Israel and antisemitism. Kiros also levied strong criticism against DeGette for accepting contributions from corporate Political Action Committees (PACs).
Kiros, a PhD student and lawyer, faced professional repercussions in 2023 when she was fired from a New York firm. This followed the publication of an open letter in which she argued that pro-Palestinian student protesters calling for the elimination of Israel were not antisemitic, and appeared to defend Hamas.
She has also described the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel as the “inevitable consequence of apartheid.” Furthermore, she declined to label the firebombing of protesters in Boulder, who were advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas, as antisemitic.
In a recent interview with Colorado’s 9News, Kiros stated, “I don’t know what was in the heart of the perpetrator. All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed.”
This stance contrasts with a bipartisan resolution passed in June 2025, which condemned the attack as part of a “rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals.” The resolution received support from all present lawmakers, with Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Thomas Massie voting “present.”
Kiros has also made statements suggesting that the United States “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.
When questioned about whether the terror attack was an “inevitable consequence of American foreign policy,” Kiros told 9News, “Inevitable in the sense that we destabilized a lot of the Middle East that forced people to believe that another act of violence was the only response.”
She further elaborated, “And again, just like I said before, our responsibility is to get rid of those conditions that lead to violence in the first place.”
DeGette argued that Kiros’ association with Piker and her remarks on antisemitism and 9/11 were disqualifying factors for public office.
The incumbent wrote on Facebook earlier this month, “I’m shocked and disgusted that Kiros is doubling down on excusing terrorism and the murder of innocent people.”
Colorado’s 1st Congressional District is recognized as the most liberal district in the state. It previously voted for Kamala Harris by a significant margin of 56 points in the 2024 election.
The primary election’s outcome was also influenced by the presence of Wanda James, a University of Colorado Regent, who was also running for DeGette’s seat. While James may not have posed the same level of threat as Kiros, her vote share could have potentially impacted the final result.
