Socialist Melat Kiros defeats incumbent Diana DeGette in stunning Colorado upset

30-year incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., lost to her Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed opponent in a high-profile primary Tuesday evening.

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist, scored a major victory for the socialist left on Tuesday evening when she defeated DeGette in the Democratic primary for the deep blue House seat in Denver, The Associated Press reported.

DSA intended to portray DeGette’s loss as evidence of her growing momentum after a group of socialist candidates won the Democratic primary in New York City last week.

“East Coast today, West Mountain next week,” DSA wrote in a social media post last week.

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If elected in November, Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, would likely join the ranks of the far-left group known as the Squad and become one of a handful of outspoken socialists in the House of Representatives.

The millennial challenger was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Y., and the anti-incumbency leftist organization Justice Democrats. Controversial socialist broadcaster Hassan Piker, who said Hamas was “a thousand times better” than Israel and praised the Chinese Communist Party, also supported Kiros’ rebel primary.

DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus that supports repealing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sought to win a 16th House term by flaunting her leftist bona fides. He argued that his seniority on an influential House committee would allow him to push for Medicare for All legislation, a long-time priority of the party’s far-left wing.

DeGette, who is backed by former CCP Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), also noted her experience as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021.

Although DeGette and Kiros shared several policy disagreements, they differed sharply on Israel and antisemitism. Kiros also harshly criticized DeGette for accepting corporate PAC contributions.

Kiros, a doctoral student and lawyer, was fired from a New York firm in 2023 after publishing an open letter arguing that pro-Palestinian student protesters calling for the destruction of Israel were not anti-Semitic and appeared to be defending Hamas.

Melat Kiros attends the League of Women Voters Congressional District 1 candidate forum at Montview Presbyterian Church in Denver on May 28, 2026. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/Denver Post)

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He also described the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on the Jewish state as the “inevitable consequence of apartheid” and refused to characterize last year’s deadly firebombing of protesters in Boulder calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza as antisemitic.

“I don’t know what is in the perpetrator’s heart,” Kiros said. Colorado’s 9 News in a recent television interview. “All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what he believed in.”

In June 2025, a bipartisan resolution condemning the attack as part of an “increase in ideologically motivated attacks against Jewish individuals” was introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who voted presently. and Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Besides, he won the support of all MPs present.

Cyrus also suggested that the United States deserved 9/11.

“It’s inevitable in the sense that we’re destabilizing much of the Middle East by forcing people to believe that another act of violence is the only answer,” Kiros told 9News when asked if the terrorist attack was “the inevitable outcome of American foreign policy.”

“And as I said before, our responsibility is, first of all, to get rid of the conditions that lead to violence,” Kiros continued.

DeGette argued that Cyrus’s appropriation of Piker and his comments about antisemitism and 9/11 were disqualifying.

“I am shocked and disgusted that Cyrus has doubled down on his insistence on excusing terrorism and the killing of innocent people,” the 30-year incumbent wrote on Facebook earlier this month.

Publisher and creator Hasan Piker speaks at a press conference during the second day of Web Summit Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Center on May 13, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. (Sam Barnes/Web Summit, via Sportsfile, via Getty Images)

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Colorado’s 1st Congressional District is the most liberal seat in the state, voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris by 56 points in 2024.

The primary challenge was further complicated by University of Colorado Regents Wanda James, who is also running for DeGette’s seat. While James may not pose the same threat as Cyrus, his vote share could ultimately affect the race.