General Discussion

AZProgressive

(30,129 posts) Tue Jun 30, 2026, 11:22 PM Jun 30

A democratic socialist unseats a 15-term congresswoman in Colorado [View all]

Grace Panetta
Tue, June 30, 2026 at 7:32 PM MST

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and first-time candidate, ousted Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado in a primary challenge on Tuesday.

DeGette, a 15-term incumbent first elected in 1996, is the second member of Congress to lose her seat to a younger democratic socialist challenger after Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated Rep. Adriano Espaillait, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York's 13th District last week.

Chevalier's and Kiros' challenges came amid widespread discontent and frustration among Democratic voters with party leadership in the wake of President Donald Trump's election. Both Espaillat and DeGette are longtime progressives whom their opponents cast as representatives of a failing Democratic establishment beholden to corporate interests. Chevalier and Kiros both also have a history of pro-Palestine activism and made opposing Israel's war in Gaza central to their campaigns.

Kiros is all but assured to win the general election in the deep blue district, which encompasses most of the city and county of Denver.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/democratic-socialist-unseats-15-term-023225646.html

47 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A democratic socialist unseats a 15-term congresswoman in Colorado [View all] AZProgressive Jun 30 OP

Fuck. DavidDvorkin Jun 30 #1

Huh? GP6971 Jul 1 #5

It's a very bad outcome for the party, the district, and the country. DavidDvorkin Jul 1 #7

why? nt orleans Jul 1 #8

Could not disagree more angrychair Jul 1 #11

Why?' Demsrule86 Jul 1 #14

How come? TVguyCards Jul 1 #19

It's good for us here in Colorado. Autumn Jul 1 #21

I support our democratic nominee Melat Kiros. Emile Jul 1 #24

It's a great outcome for my district, CO-1, what are you smoking? TransitJohn Jul 1 #42

Glad to see democracy is alive and well!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 30 #2

Time for some new ideas, especially on a few specific foreign policy questions Prairie Gates Jun 30 #3

I really like that. n/t Scruffy1 Jul 1 #10

This a thousand times. Xavier Breath Jul 1 #25

Yes! Some of those specific foreign policy questions are really high on my list of 'wants' in a candidate. 3_Limes Jul 1 #30

Boomer here yankee87 Jul 1 #4

+1. n/t rzemanfl Jul 1 #15

Recommended. H2O Man Jul 1 #6

"testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure" Martin Eden Jul 1 #39

I really want to see Pototan Jul 1 #9

Yes! I will consider it successful when the GOP starts shaking in their boots! LeftInTX Jul 1 #13

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 1 #16

Why are they being marginalized? Emile Jul 1 #17

The media is telling them they are being marginalized by Democrats travelingthrulife Jul 1 #34

AIPAC would be my guess. Emile Jul 1 #35

It was things that happened to them personally. Generally anti-semitism expressed to them by other Democrats. LeftInTX Jul 1 #40

OK. 3_Limes Jul 1 #43

I dunno. Have no idea. LeftInTX Jul 1 #44

How is Texas doing with getting rid of the Texas garbage GOP? Autumn Jul 1 #27

Texas Congressman Greg Casar is with DSA. LeftInTX Jul 1 #41

My sisters live there. They would rot in hell before they would vote for any Democrat. nt Autumn Jul 1 #47

???? Marginalized? Haven't seen this in any way. 3_Limes Jul 1 #28

Coincidence? LilElf70 Jul 1 #12

While I support entirely what these people are running on and for, I blame Bernie for the label "democratic socialism." Vinca Jul 1 #18

They scream "Socialist Commie!" at everything TVguyCards Jul 1 #20

The problem is, we live in a shallow, shallow society. Many vote for whoever puts on the best show and little more. Vinca Jul 1 #22

I support our democratic nominee Melat Kiros. Emile Jul 1 #23

Well, so do I. My point is the branding is handing ammo to the GOP. Vinca Jul 1 #37

Except... TVguyCards Jul 1 #32

It's not a matter of the policies. Of course, most Democrats support them. It's the branding. Vinca Jul 1 #38

Based on the policies that they many advocate SocialDemocrat61 Jul 1 #31

Congratulations! Exciting times. Nanjeanne Jul 1 #26

I'm thrilled over this. The party is long overdue for an update. 3_Limes Jul 1 #29

Hurrah! This is the future of the Democratic Party RainCaster Jul 1 #33

I Voted For Her But I Wouldn't Read Too Much Into It Aepps22 Jul 1 #36

What % of congress would DSA represent? Boo1 Jul 1 #45

They will have more than they did in 2018 AZProgressive Jul 1 #46