Progressives are looking to Colorado as the next test of their rising movement, with Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and lawyer, challenging 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette for the solidly blue seat in Denver.
Primary Challenge
Kiros, who received a late endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders, has criticized DeGette for accepting donations from corporate PACs. DeGette has defended her progressive bona fides, pointing to her work as an impeachment manager as evidence of her record fighting Trump.
The primary has also centered on Kiros’ vocal criticism of US relations with Israel. Kiros was fired from a law firm in 2023 after she refused to take down an open letter arguing that student protesters’ calls for the elimination of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism.
Statewide Races
In the US Senate race, progressive state Sen. Julie Gonzales is challenging incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, a longtime fixture of Colorado politics who governed the state before heading to Washington.
In the Democratic gubernatorial primary to succeed Polis, who is term-limited, Sen. Michael Bennet’s path to the nomination has been complicated by Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
