Colorado is the next test for Melat Kiros and progressives

Democratic socialist Melat Kiros has made Colorado's June 30 primary the progressive movement's next national test, mounting the strongest challenge 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette has faced in decades as millions in outside spending and volatile prediction markets signal a race that could go either way.

Key Takeaways

• Melat Kiros, 29, is challenging 15-term Denver Rep. Diana DeGette in Tuesday's Democratic primary for Colorado's solidly blue 1st District.
• After progressive wins in New York, Justice Democrats and allied groups are pouring resources into Kiros while pro-DeGette super PACs have spent more than $1.3 million attacking her.
• A Justice Democrats poll shows Kiros at 41% and DeGette at 36%, while Kalshi and Polymarket traders have wagered nearly $350,000 on the outcome.
• Kiros faces criticism from progressive allies for declining to call the 2025 Boulder firebombing antisemitic in a 9News interview.
• DeGette argues her experience fighting Trump makes her the safer choice; Kiros says Denver voters want leaders 'unbought and unafraid.'

Almost immediately after scoring upset victories in New York last week, members of the rising progressive movement started looking ahead to Colorado's 1st Congressional District, CNN reported. Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist and former lawyer, is challenging DeGette for the Denver seat where she and her allies hope voters are ready for change.

'I think voters have realized that the party and leadership are failing to meet this moment in a meaningful way,' Kiros told CNN. Within hours of New York wins, Justice Democrats-backed candidates discussed boosting Kiros through fundraising and phone banking, spokesperson Usamah Andrabi said.

Why does Melat Kiros pose a real threat to Diana DeGette?

This spring, DeGette narrowly qualified for the ballot at the party assembly after Kiros outperformed her among activists. Democratic strategists told CNN this is likely DeGette's toughest race in years, and one granted anonymity said they 'wouldn't be shocked if either outcome happens.'

Money tells the same story. DeGette's campaign and supporters have spent more than $2 million boosting the incumbent and attacking Kiros, according to Denverite. Justice Democrats released a poll showing Kiros at 41% versus DeGette's 36% among 307 likely voters—a 34-point swing from a March survey that had Kiros at just 7%.

Online prediction markets have swung wildly. Users on Kalshi and Polymarket have spent nearly $350,000 on the race, with expectations for Kiros spiking after New York results before shifting back toward DeGette. For more on how data-driven forecasting is reshaping political coverage, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.

What is driving the ad war in Denver's congressional race?

Super PACs including Mile High Accountability Project and Project 218 have aired ads accusing Kiros of being a recent Denver transplant and wanting to divide Democrats. One ad claims 'Donald Trump loves Democrats like Kiros.' Kiros, whose family immigrated from Ethiopia when she was a baby, called the criticism 'disrespectful' and 'Republican-esque.'

DeGette entered the final stretch with a cash advantage—about $459,000 on hand versus roughly $88,000 for Kiros as of June 10 FEC filings cited by Denverite. Pro-Choice Majority Action alone poured more than $1.5 million into the race, CNN reported, airing spots calling DeGette 'the strongest voice fighting Trump.'

Why are progressive leaders criticizing Kiros on antisemitism?

The Israel debate has become central. Kiros was fired from a law firm in 2023 after refusing to remove an open letter arguing student calls to eliminate Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism. She recently declined in a 9News interview to describe as antisemitic a June 2025 firebombing of Jewish demonstrators in Boulder that killed 82-year-old Karen Diamond.

'I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator,' Kiros said. State Sen. Julie Gonzales, state Rep. Yara Zokaie—who has endorsed Kiros—and attorney general candidate David Seligman told The Colorado Sun the answer was wrong. Zokaie said she is not pulling her endorsement, citing Kiros's focus on Medicare for All and taxing the rich.

DeGette told CNN she has won contested primaries before and is 'confident about this one,' while Kiros argues Denver voters want leaders who will fight for working people—not national narratives from other states. Ballots in the mail-in state are due by 7 p.m. Tuesday.