Political newcomer and activist Melat Kiros has defeated 15-term incumbent Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary.
With 84 percent of the ballots counted by Wednesday morning, projections show Melat securing 49.3 percent of the vote compared to DeGette’s 43.5 percent, establishing a lead of more than 10,000 votes. DeGette has represented the Denver-area district since 1997.
Melat, a Democratic Socialist of Ethiopian origin, ran a grassroots campaign with the endorsement of several progressive figures and organizations, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and the advocacy group Justice Democrats.
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“We are so proud to be sending Colorado’s first Justice Democrat to Congress,” said Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats. “Melat built a movement that inspired Denverites to remember they themselves have the power to transform what kind of Democratic Party they want to be represented by.”
The race represents a notable defeat for a congressional incumbent in the current election cycle. It follows primary elections last week in New York City, where three progressive candidates unseated two sitting lawmakers.
Progressive strategists view these consecutive victories as a significant shift for the wing of the party as it assesses its national strategy following the 2024 election cycle. Given the strong Democratic leaning of Colorado’s 1st District, Melat enters the November general election as the clear frontrunner.
