The Democratic Socialists of America secured its third major primary victory this cycle when DSA-backed Melat Kiros defeated 10-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, part of a broader progressive surge that has rattled the party's establishment wing.
Kiros, a 29-year-old former attorney who lost her job in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, will now represent a Denver-based district that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried by nearly 56 points in the 2024 election. The win came one week after DSA-aligned candidates also defeated two incumbent or long-serving Democratic representatives in New York City congressional primaries.
The victories have emboldened progressive activists who argue that left-wing policies centered on working-class economic issues can succeed even in traditionally Democratic districts. Hasan Piker, a progressive commentator, said at Kiros's primary night event that he believes 'progressive politics, left populism, a politics that centers the needs of the working class, can work in every district, in every state.'
What the Right Is Saying
Republican strategists have sought to capitalize on the progressive wins by arguing they expose Democratic Party divisions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Rep. Gabe Evans, who flipped Colorado's 8th Congressional District in 2024 and will face DSA-backed challenger Manny Rutinel in November, said Democrats nominated a dangerous candidate.
"Democrats have chosen a far-left, radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist — someone who supports eliminating oil and gas, defunding law enforcement, calling farmers and ranchers horrific, and threatening the industries that power our economy," Evans charged in a statement referring to photos of Rutinel rallying alongside NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
National Republican groups have begun using the DSA victories in fundraising appeals to conservative supporters, arguing that Democratic infighting signals opportunity for GOP gains. The Republican National Committee pointed to the primary results as evidence that 'the radical left is taking over the Democrat Party.'
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive leaders celebrated the string of victories as evidence that Democratic voters are demanding more ambitious policy agendas. The DSA declared on social media that 'another Democratic Socialist is going to Congress' and outlined Kiros's priorities: abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, supporting Palestinian rights, and fighting for universal childcare and Medicare for All.
Justice Democrats, the political organization that helped launch the so-called 'Squad' including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, backed Kiros's campaign. The group has argued that backing progressive candidates with clear policy positions attracts motivated volunteers and small-dollar donors who energize Democratic turnout.
Former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive who lost her Senate primary bid to incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper despite having previously been a DSA member, framed her campaign as shifting the party's center of gravity. 'My heart is full, knowing that we've put the Democratic establishment on notice: keep taking folks like us for granted,' Gonzales wrote in a statement conceding the race.
What the Numbers Show
The three DSA-backed victories represent significant upsets. DeGette was first elected in 1996 and had served nearly 30 years in Congress before her defeat. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who lost to DSA candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, whom Claire Valdez succeeded, was first elected to Congress in 1992.
In Colorado's neighboring 8th District, State Rep. Manny Rutinel defeated former state Rep. Shannon Bird by a double-digit margin. The seat is considered among two or three dozen that will determine whether Republicans maintain their razor-thin House majority. Roughly 40% of the district's population is Latino, and immigration emerged as a top issue in the Democratic primary.
In the Senate race, Hickenlooper, a 74-year-old former Denver mayor and two-term governor, saw his once-large polling advantage over Gonzales narrow significantly in the final weeks before prevailing. University of Colorado regent Wanda James, described as a potential spoiler, finished third with less than 8% of the vote.
The Bottom Line
The string of primary victories marks an unusually successful cycle for DSA-backed candidates and raises questions about the Democratic Party's electoral coalition heading into 2026. Progressive groups argue that their candidates motivate young voters and working-class Democrats who might otherwise sit out midterms, while party moderates worry the progressive agenda could complicate general election competitiveness in swing districts.
Kiros will now represent a safely Democratic seat where her policy positions are unlikely to face immediate electoral tests. The more consequential races may be those like Colorado's 8th District, where DSA-aligned candidates must win over more moderate Democratic voters and potentially compete against Republicans in November.