Kiros ousts DeGette in Colorado Democratic primary

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and political newcomer, defeated 15-term U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s Democratic primary, extending a run of left-wing victories over establishment Democrats and ending the longtime lawmaker’s reelection bid in a heavily Democratic Denver district.

The Associated Press and other outlets projected Kiros the winner in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. Al Jazeera reported the race was called after 78% of votes were counted, with Kiros leading DeGette by nearly 7,000 votes.

Kiros, a former lawyer who moved to the United States from Ethiopia as a baby, argued during the campaign that the district needed a leadership change. She centered her platform on working families, universal health care, child care and elder care, and pledged not to accept corporate PAC money. She has also criticized Democrats for supporting Israel during the war in Gaza and has called Israel’s actions there genocide, Al Jazeera reported.

DeGette has served in Congress for nearly 30 years and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Kiros is now favored in November in the overwhelmingly Democratic district. Republican Christy Peterson, an office manager and accountant at a construction company, ran unopposed in the GOP primary.

The result adds to recent momentum for candidates aligned with democratic socialism. NPR reported that Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates won two primaries in New York last week, along with several state assembly primaries, and advanced to November elections for mayor in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Al Jazeera reported that in New York City, three candidates with ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their primaries.

Colorado Democrats also chose Attorney General Phil Weiser as their nominee for governor, ending U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s bid for the office. The seat is open because Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is term-limited.

Weiser and Bennet held similar positions on many issues, but both sought to present themselves as the stronger opponent of President Donald Trump’s policies. Weiser’s campaign emphasized lawsuits he oversaw as attorney general, including efforts to collect money from opioid producers and companies accused of consumer fraud. Al Jazeera reported that Weiser argued he had stood up to the Trump administration in court, including over a federal funding freeze and Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.

Bennet, who ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, has two years left in his Senate term. During a debate, he said that if elected governor, he would appoint someone under 50 to replace him in the Senate.

The Republican primary for governor remained too close to call, according to NPR. The candidates are state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, Marine Corps veteran Victor Marx and state Sen. Scott Bottoms. NPR reported the race was contentious, with Marx, who has never held elected office but led in fundraising and has a large social media following, facing accusations from opponents that he lied about his background. Marx has described himself as a “high-risk humanitarian” who has rescued hostages and aided thousands overseas.

In another closely watched race, state Rep. Manny Rutinel won the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. The district, located in the Boulder area and Denver’s northern suburbs, is about 40% Latino and is one of 18 House districts rated a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report, NPR reported.

Rutinel, a progressive candidate who highlighted his Dominican background, defeated state Rep. Shannon Bird in a primary focused heavily on immigration. NPR reported that Rutinel accused Bird of not being tough enough in opposing ICE, while Bird described herself as less partisan and more representative of the district. Evans, who is of Mexican descent, ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Al Jazeera reported that Evans narrowly won the seat in 2024 and had $3.4 million in campaign cash on hand, compared with Rutinel’s $910,000. NPR reported that Republicans currently hold 218 House seats, Democrats hold 212, and there is one independent and four vacancies.