A major progressive upset has shaken Colorado politics, with the ripple effects now reaching Democratic power circles in Washington.
Melat Kiros, 29, emerged almost overnight as a rising force after defeating longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette by double digits in the primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.
Speaking to Politico after her win, Kiros argued that incumbents who depend on corporate PAC contributions should lose their seats — a position that would put her at odds with senior Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“We have to root out the corruption and get money out of our politics … It’s not about popular support, it’s about political will,” she said.
Sen. Michael Bennet’s campaign to become Colorado’s next governor also ended suddenly Tuesday, as Democratic primary voters rejected his bid.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated Bennet by about 10 points, an unexpected blow to the three-term senator despite his strong name recognition across the state.
The results in Colorado add to a wider pattern of turbulence in Democratic primaries, following recent races in New York where veteran incumbents, including Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman, were ousted by challengers backed by Zohran Mamdani.
In a video posted on X, DeGette conceded the race and congratulated Kiros, saying, “Frankly, this was not the way I would have wanted to end my career in politics, but I’m proud of my accomplishments.”
Melat Kiros speaks to supporters at her watch party after winning the primary
Melat Kiros unseated 15-term Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary
Melat Kiros said she wouldn’t support Hakeem Jeffries for House Democratic leadership after his acceptance of corporate PAC contributions
The latest unseating of a long-serving incumbent — has reportedly sparked fresh unease among House Democrats, with insiders warning it reflects a broader shift toward more confrontational, media-driven progressive politics within the party.
According to Axios, one House Democrat, speaking anonymously, called it ‘one more case in the growing dynamic of performative politics,’ while noting that although the defeated incumbent ‘was an excellent representative with seniority,’ younger, more outspoken candidates are increasingly appealing to ‘motivated urban left voters.’
A senior House Democrat described the result as a ‘wake-up call’ for members of Congress, underscoring growing anxiety over the party’s evolving ideological direction.
DeGette, a veteran lawmaker and establishment-backed favorite, had been widely seen as safe heading into election night.
But as returns came in, Kiros surged ahead, ultimately delivering what party observers are calling one of the most significant internal Democratic challenges in recent memory.
Speaking after her victory, the Ethiopian-born politician cast the result as a sweeping endorsement of progressive demands on healthcare, immigration, and foreign policy.
‘We will not wait to abolish ICE and pass Medicare for all. We will not wait to put an end to the politics of the past to get big money out of our politics and to reject corporate PACs and AIPAC. And no, we will not wait to end the genocide in Palestine,’ she said.
Kiros drew backlash during the campaign after remarks in a pre-election interview in which she suggested the September 11 attacks were ‘inevitable,’ framing them as a consequence of long-term U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
She argued that decades of American intervention had destabilised the region and helped create conditions for violent backlash, saying attention should be focused on addressing what she described as the ‘root causes’ of conflict.
The comments were seized on by critics as highly controversial in the final stretch of the campaign.
In a pre-election interview with left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker—known online as ‘HasanAbi’—Kiros called for an immediate pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, slamming the current system as costly, slow and out of reach for many.
New York’s mayor rattled the Democratic establishment in the Empire State after he racked up wins against incumbents in June
Jeffries congratulated Kiros on her victory Wednesday and pledged to take back the majority in November.
‘I think there has to be an immediate pathway for every single undocumented immigrant that’s here in this country today that does not require them to shell out thousands of dollars to go through the process for it to take decades at a time to be able to get to citizenship.’
Back in 2023, Kiros was reportedly dismissed from the prominent law firm Sidley Austin following internal controversy over the Israel–Gaza conflict.
She had criticized a public statement on Medium signed by major law firms condemning antisemitism on college campuses, arguing it blurred the line between criticism of Israel and hate speech.
Her refusal to remove the comments reportedly triggered internal backlash. It ultimately led to her departure — a moment that has since become part of her political narrative about free speech and institutional pressure.
