Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, has unseated Representative Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary. This victory marks a significant gain for the progressive faction of the Democratic Party. Kiros, who is an immigrant and new to the political scene, will likely head to Congress representing a heavily Democratic district in Colorado.
Kiros’s triumph ends the long tenure of DeGette, a 15-term incumbent. This victory aligns with a recent wave of progressive wins in various congressional races.
Born shortly after DeGette began her congressional career, Kiros’s success almost guarantees her election in the upcoming November vote. She is both a lawyer and a doctoral candidate in public affairs, and she portrayed herself as an outsider ready to tackle financial issues that she believes the Democratic leadership has ignored. Her stance against U.S. support for Israel was pivotal to her campaign and shaped her political identity.
Despite facing a fund-raising disadvantage, Kiros’s grassroots efforts overcame DeGette’s financial support, which saw a last-minute boost from external groups. With about 80 percent of votes reported, Kiros led by over five percentage points.
A notable part of Kiros’s campaign narrative was her departure from a Manhattan law firm in 2023. She was dismissed after refusing to retract a letter questioning Israel’s historical legitimacy and supporting pro-Palestinian activism.
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