A pair of Mamdani-backed candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America scored victories in New York House primaries last Tuesday, sharpening attention on another closely watched contest: Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, where longtime Rep. Diana DeGette faced a challenge from DSA member Melat Kiros.
By Tuesday night, the race had delivered a major jolt to Democratic politics. With 78 percent of the vote reported at the time of publication, Decision Desk HQ projected Kiros as the winner, marking what could stand as one of the most significant primary defeats for an incumbent House Democrat in this midterm cycle.
Decision Desk HQ projects Melat Kiros wins the CO US House 1 Democratic Primary#DecisionMade: 10:31 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/ExYwfWhKv3
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) July 1, 2026
DeGette, 68, has represented Colorado in Congress since 1997 and is the state’s longest-serving member of Congress. Her Denver-based district has long been considered favorable territory for Democrats. While she drew two primary challengers, Kiros emerged as the candidate who most concerned party establishment figures. The 29-year-old lawyer and former barista, like a number of DSA-aligned contenders, also had the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Ahead of the Colorado results, Decision Desk HQ directed readers to its preview of the night’s key races.
Perhaps the top race is #CO01, where democratic socialist Melat Kiros is primarying longtime Rep. Diana DeGette (D) from the left. This is just the latest left-vs.-establishment clash for Dems. pic.twitter.com/RfhLFZ5nHp
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 30, 2026
Kiros’ rise had already drawn sharp criticism from conservative outlets, including RedState, which highlighted past remarks and social media activity that opponents have framed as deeply hostile toward the United States, including comments they interpreted as suggesting America bore responsibility for the 9/11 attacks.
The socialists’ foreign policy advisor is apparently Osama bin Laden. This is word-for-word how the Taliban justified 9/11. The DSA wants to destroy society altogether. pic.twitter.com/IZHj0h6Veb
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) June 29, 2026
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She has also blamed Israel for the 10/7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, and has refused to call out violent, deadly antisemitism in her own backyard:
Melat Kiros has said the massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct 7 was “the inevitable consequence of apartheid.”
I asked Kiros if she thought the same thing about 9/11 and US foreign policy.
And she declined to call the firebombing of Jews in Boulder an act of anti-semitism. pic.twitter.com/WYTETFLNeX
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) June 23, 2026
Denver socialist Melat Kiros has refused to call a firebomb attack on Jews an act of anti-Semitism. She insists that she cannot say what “was in the heart” of Mohamed Sabry Soliman when he burned to death an elderly Jewish woman at a pro-Israel rally…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) June 29, 2026
Language warning for the clip below:
Melat Kiros said her campaign made a mistake posting an ad from a progressive PAC that said centrist Democrats “fellate Israel” and “suck shit.”
“We didn’t catch the language that was on the screen. Had we caught it, we wouldn’t have reposted it, and we’ve since taken it down.” pic.twitter.com/C1UrrpKjXb
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) June 23, 2026
