DeGette loses reelection bid to DSA challenger in major upset for Denver-based House seat

Campaign DeGette loses reelection bid to DSA challenger in major upset for Denver-based House seat Comments: by Caroline Vakil - 06/30/26 10:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Caroline Vakil - 06/30/26 10:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) is projected to lose her reelection bid to former attorney and current PhD student Melat Kiros, marking the third time that a democratic socialist has scored an upset in a competitive House primary this cycle, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Kiros, who studies at the University of Denver, defeated DeGette, who’s served in Congress since 1997 — delivering a major blow to the Democratic establishment despite the fact that DeGette herself was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. University of Colorado Regent Wanda James also ran in the Democratic primary.

The Democratic contest for the Denver-based seat comes on the heels of New York’s congressional races last week, where two democratic socialists who were backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, won their House primaries in the city.

Kiros’s win suggests that Democratic voters are so frustrated with the status quo and their party that they’re even willing to oust some of their most progressive members in Congress.

DeGette argued that she had the experience needed to do the job and that the party shouldn’t take a gamble on a newcomer. She also pointed out that she’s the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, meaning she’d chair a key cohort if the party takes back the gavel.

Meanwhile, Kiros said she understood the struggles of Denverites, pointing out she’s 29 years old, renting and a barista. She also differentiated herself from DeGette by saying her campaign rejected corporate PAC money. Both candidates though have super PACs spending on their behalf.

Israel, too, has become a focal point in many of these primaries, including in Denver.

Kiros was fired from her law firm after she wrote a letter directed at U.S. law firms on her Substack in November 2023 in which she disputed the notion that calling for the state of Israel to be eliminated or criticizing Israel’s government were antisemitic.

The former lawyer has also received criticism for declining to say whether or not a firebombing that took place in Boulder in 2025 that hurt protesters calling for the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas was an act of antisemitism, saying in a recent interview with 9News, “I don’t know what was in the heart of the perpetrator.”

DeGette has said she’s opposed to most arms sales to Israel except defensive weapons while Kiros said she’s in favor of a complete ban on weapons sales to the country entirely.

DeGette had endorsements from Democratic Reps. Joe Neguse, Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen while Kiros had the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Justice Democrats.

Given the Denver-based seat’s reliably blue leanings, Kiros is expected to win the general election in November.

While the win is a boon for the DSA, it could portend challenges for members of the party in vulnerable House districts as Republicans race to link battleground Democrats to more progressive members of their party.