Colorado's Democratic Socialists Look to Build on NYC Primary Wins

With the recent success of democratic socialists in New York City's primaries, the movement is looking to build on that momentum in Colorado. On Tuesday, Rep. Diana DeGette will face her toughest reelection fight yet, against 29-year-old attorney and democratic socialist Melat Kiros, who was born months after DeGette won her seat in Congress 30 years ago. Kiros' candidacy is seen as a test of the democratic socialist movement's appeal in the Centennial State.

Kiros, who was fired from her law firm in 2023 after writing an open letter criticizing her employers' response to pro-Palestinian protests, hopes to capitalize on the growing disillusionment among voters with the Democratic establishment. 'Ultimately, folks are really tired of the party failing to meaningfully represent the values and policies that are extremely popular with our base,' she said. 'And we're looking for leaders that are unbought and unafraid to stand up to a lot of these corporations and special interests that have gotten us into this mess in the first place.'

DeGette, a leading member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has led Democratic messaging on abortion rights and served as a House impeachment manager during President Trump's second impeachment trial. However, her long record in Congress has also made her a target for frustrated progressives, who sense momentum after democratic socialists Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez defeated establishment-backed Democrats in two NYC primaries last week. They see Kiros as someone who has put up a fight - not just against Republican fascism, but also against the Democratic establishment that has failed voters.'

The primary race between DeGette and Kiros is not breaking down evenly along ideological fault lines. DeGette has been endorsed by some left-leaning groups, including the progressive stalwart Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). However, Kiros has also gained the support of the Justice Democrats, who have been instrumental in helping her campaign knock on tens of thousands of doors and make more than 200,000 calls to potential voters.

Doug Friednash, an attorney who was chief of staff to former Gov. John Hickenlooper, noted that DeGette's record is very progressive, and she's not a moderate. However, he also acknowledged that many young voters are demanding change and look at rising health care costs, gas prices, and the view that the establishment hasn't done enough.

Outside of Denver, the Democratic establishment faces tests in primaries for governor and Senate. In the primary for governor, Hickenlooper faces progressive state senator Julie Gonzales. And in the primary for Senate, Sen. Michael Bennet is locked in a competitive race against Attorney General Phil Weiser to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.

Weiser, who served in the Obama administration and as Colorado's attorney general since 2019, has positioned himself as the insurgent in the race against Bennet, linking the longtime senator to Washington.