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Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary in Colorado's 1st district on Tuesday, according to U.S. media projections, marking the latest victory of an insurgent leftist over an establishment Democrat.

Kiros, a 29-year-old former attorney and labor rights activist who moved to the U.S. from Ethiopia as a baby, won with a nearly 7,000-vote lead over DeGette with 78% of the vote counted, as reported by multiple outlets. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic, making Kiros the heavy favorite in November's general election.

Coverage comparison

The victory was reported across several outlets, each with distinct framing. Al Jazeera emphasized the anti-establishment nature of the win, calling it a "stunning victory" and highlighting Kiros's criticism of Democrats who support Israel. The Jerusalem Post focused on Kiros's views on Israel, describing her as "anti-Israel" and noting concerns among Jewish voters about the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America. The Hindu framed the win as an "upset" and a sign of shifting voter sentiment, while The Intercept provided pre-election coverage portraying DeGette as vulnerable after a series of confrontations with voters and an unfavorable poll.

Kiros's win follows a string of similar victories by left-wing candidates in New York and Pennsylvania primaries, including Darializa Avila Chevalier, a pro-Palestine activist who won a Democratic congressional primary in New York against a five-term incumbent. These wins have been interpreted as a sign of the growing electoral influence of the pro-Palestine movement and the Democratic Socialists of America.

The Intercept's pre-election reporting detailed DeGette's defensive posture, including the involvement of super PACs funded by the pro-Israel lobby, and quoted Justice Democrats communications director Usamah Andrabi as saying that their candidates are "winning by taking on the corporate interests raising our prices... from Medicare for All to ending taxpayer-funded genocide."

Key claims

  • Kiros defeated DeGette: Multiple outlets reported that Kiros won the primary, defeating the 15-term incumbent. The race was called with 78% of votes counted and Kiros leading by nearly 7,000 votes.
  • Kiros's background: Kiros is a 29-year-old former attorney and labor rights activist who came to the U.S. from Ethiopia as a baby. She was fired from her law firm in 2023 after refusing to remove a social media post criticizing law firms for their stance on Israel and Palestine.
  • Kiros's positions: Kiros has called for a full arms embargo on Israel, including for defensive weapons, and has described Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. She has also been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Justice Democrats.
  • DeGette's incumbency: DeGette had been in Congress for 30 years and was a member of the Progressive Caucus. She supported sending defensive weapons to Israel and backed policies like Medicare for All and abolishing ICE.
  • Related victories: Kiros's win was part of a broader wave of left-wing primary victories, including in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier won a congressional primary, and Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City last year.

Perspectives

Kiros campaign and supporters: Kiros and her backers, including Justice Democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America, see her victory as a triumph of grassroots organizing over establishment money. They argue that her win demonstrates that voters are rejecting corporate influence and demanding policies like Medicare for All and an end to U.S. support for what they call genocide in Gaza. Andrabi of Justice Democrats said, "We are truly proving that organized people power and mass movements can beat the money."

Critics and Jewish groups: Critics, including some Jewish leaders and the Jerusalem Post editorial board, expressed concern that Kiros's rhetoric and that of other left-wing candidates veers into antisemitism. They point to her refusal to call the October 7 Hamas attack "antisemitic" and her hesitation to label the Boulder firebombing that killed an 82-year-old woman as anti-Semitic. The Jerusalem Post also noted that Kiros's victory follows a pattern of "anti-Israel" candidates winning primaries, raising alarms among pro-Israel voters.

DeGette and Democratic establishment: DeGette, who has represented Denver for three decades, had touted a progressive record on domestic issues but was criticized for being complacent and for generally following the party line on Israel. Her defeat is seen as a wake-up call for incumbents who may not be sufficiently responsive to their base's demands for change.