Democratic socialist candidate Melat Kiros speaks to supporters at an election-night watch party after winning the Colorado primary on 30 June 2026 in Denver, Colorado. [Getty]
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term US Representative Diana DeGette on Tuesday in the Democratic primary in a Denver-area district, according to U.S. media projections, the latest victory of an insurgent leftist over an establishment Democrat.
Kiros, a 29-year-old former attorney who was fired after refusing to remove a controversial post that criticised law firms for their stance on Israel and Palestine, has called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide.
The race was called by multiple media outlets with 78% of the vote counted, with Kiros carrying a nearly 7,000-vote lead over DeGette.
Kiros, who moved to the US from Ethiopia as a baby, faced pressure due to her criticism of Democrats who support Israel. She is favoured to win November’s election in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Kiros is the latest democratic socialist and major supporter of Palestine to oust an incumbent this summer. In New York City, three candidates with ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and vocally pro-Palestinian, and endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, won their primaries.
