SouthernWorldwide.com – The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are increasingly making their political influence felt across the nation.
This comes after a significant week where DSA-aligned candidates achieved victories over establishment-backed opponents in two key congressional primaries within New York City, drawing considerable national attention.
Adding to these successes, the group secured another major win in a reliably Democratic U.S. House district in Denver, Colorado.
Incumbent Democratic Representative Diana DeGette, who has served in Congress since 1997 after being elected in 1996, was defeated by Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old first-time candidate and former attorney supported by the DSA.
Kiros’s victory followed closely behind other notable wins. Just a week prior, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive community organizer in New York City, unseated incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
Simultaneously, state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another candidate aligned with the DSA, won a congressional primary to fill the seat of retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
VICTORIES BY MAMDANI-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPOTLIGHTS GROWING RIFT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
These wins by Chevalier and Valdez, who received support from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a proponent of socialist ideals, along with Kiros’s recent triumph, are significantly empowering the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
This emboldened progressive movement is now challenging the center-left establishment in a critical contest for the future direction of the Democratic Party.
The most recent DSA primary victory occurred in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, a seat heavily dominated by Democrats and centered in Denver.
This district was previously carried by nearly 56 points by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, underscoring its strong Democratic leanings.
“Another Democratic Socialist is going to Congress!,” the DSA announced on social media. “Congresswoman Kiros will take the fight for a better world to D.C: to Abolish ICE, free Palestine, and win Universal Childcare and Medicare for All.”
Kiros, who reportedly lost her legal position in New York after publishing an essay critical of Israel, also received backing from Justice Democrats.
Justice Democrats is a political organization nearly a decade old, known for its strong support of prominent “Squad” members like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib during their initial campaigns against entrenched incumbents.
Wanda James, a University of Colorado regent who entered the Democratic congressional primary in April and was seen as a potential spoiler, finished in third place with a single-digit percentage of the vote.
Progressives also achieved a noteworthy victory in the adjacent 8th Congressional District. This district is considered a crucial swing seat and extends along the I-25 corridor north of Denver.
State Rep. Manny Rutinel secured a decisive double-digit win over former state Rep. Shannon Bird, who represented a more moderate stance.
Rutinel is now set to face Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who successfully flipped this seat during the 2024 election cycle.
This race is identified as one of the key contests, among a dozen or so, that will likely determine whether the Republican Party can maintain its narrow majority in the House of Representatives following the midterm elections.
Immigration emerged as a significant issue in the Democratic primary for this district, where approximately 40% of the population is Latino.
Rutinel criticized Bird for a vote she cast last year that opposed a measure aimed at limiting cooperation between local and state law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rutinel’s campaign also benefited from substantial financial support from allies, including prominent Latino organizations.
While Rutinel has moderated his previous stances on key progressive issues such as Medicare for All and opposition to fracking, Republicans perceived him as a more manageable opponent in the general election compared to Bird.
During the primary campaign, conservative groups highlighted images of Rutinel participating in rallies alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“Democrats have chosen a far-left, radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist — someone who supports eliminating oil and gas, defunding law enforcement, calling farmers and ranchers horrific, and threatening the industries that power our economy,” stated Gabe Evans, criticizing Rutinel.
Another primary contest that illuminated the divisions between progressives and moderates, as well as the generational gap within the party, was the battle for the Senate nomination.
The race pitted incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, 74, against former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive.
Hickenlooper, a former mayor of Denver and a two-term governor, saw his initially substantial lead over Gonzales, a former DSA member, shrink in the weeks leading up to the primary election.
Hickenlooper ultimately won the nomination and is considered the clear favorite in the general election against Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley, who ran unopposed in his party’s primary.
Despite her defeat, Gonzales found a positive aspect, stating, “My heart is full, knowing that we’ve put the Democratic establishment on notice: keep taking folks like us for granted at your own peril.”
Meanwhile, in the highly contested and contentious Democratic gubernatorial primary, state Attorney General Phil Weiser emerged victorious over U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.
Weiser, who adopted a more left-leaning platform on certain issues compared to Bennet, narrowed the gap with the senator by emphasizing his efforts to challenge President Donald Trump.
As attorney general, Weiser filed or joined numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration.
While many mainstream Democrats have achieved primary victories in recent weeks, it is the far-left candidates who are capturing significant media attention.
This focus on the progressive wing is providing Republicans with additional talking points to portray all Democrats as radicals.
“The socialist takeover of the Democrat Party is no longer confined to deep-blue strongholds. The radicals are taking over battleground districts, putting must-win seats out of reach for Democrats and sinking their chances of flipping the House,” commented NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella, referencing Rutinel’s victory.
