Melat Kiros wins Colorado's 1st District in landslide
The 29-year-old Democratic socialist defeated four opponents to take the seat, becoming the first of her ideology to represent the state in Congress.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
Melat Kiros secured the 1st Congressional District seat for Colorado on Tuesday, Nov. 3, marking the first time a socialist will represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Preliminary results showed Kiros receiving nearly 79% of the vote by 8 p.m. She defeated four candidates from opposing parties in a district that holds the largest share of Democratic voters in the state. The race was effectively decided during the June primary, where Kiros upset incumbent Diana DeGette.
DeGette, a 15-term incumbent and the state's longest-serving member of Congress, lost her primary in what officials noted was the first time a Democratic congressperson lost a primary in Colorado in more than 50 years. Kiros, a political newcomer, has since kept a low profile, focusing on supporting other progressive candidates in competitive races across the country.
Kiros stated that Denver voters are demanding more than the status quo. "We are poised, particularly as Colorado Democrats, to demonstrate that this kind of politics works; this kind of politics wins," she said. She described her role as an electoral project rather than a single-issue campaign, noting that she cannot wave a magic wand to implement Medicare for All without broader party support.
Republican lawmakers have used Kiros's victory to frame Democratic opponents in other Colorado races as radicals. Rep. Gabe Evans warned on social media that left-wing radical socialist replacements are sweeping the country. Rep. Lauren Boebert called the win a gift to Republicans, while Rep. Jeff Crank said the party has gone crazy. Mike McMacken, chair of the Denver Republican Party, said these positions present an opportunity for Republicans to contrast their rational alternatives.
Some Democratic challengers, including Jessica Killin and Eileen Laubacher, declined to endorse Kiros, citing her specific comments on the Boulder firebombing and the 9/11 attacks. Independent candidate Shimon Blau entered the race after the primary, positioning himself as a pro-Israel alternative for Jewish voters. Despite these tensions, Kiros said she has spoken to every sitting member of Colorado's Democratic delegation, who have expressed support for the new energy in the party.
Shad Murib, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, argued that a party capable of nominating both Sen. John Hickenlooper and Kiros offers voters a viable home. He noted that half of the delegates at the party's last state assembly were first-timers and 40% were under the age of 40. Membership in the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America has grown 50% since January 2026.
According to an August 2026 survey by the Colorado Polling Institute, 55% of Denver voters view socialism favorably. That figure rises to 70% among Democrats. A July CNN poll found that a third of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters nationwide identify as Democratic socialists.
