A democratic socialist notched a primary victory in Colorado’s First Congressional District, knocking out 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in a district that heavily favors Democrats.
Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old attorney, was projected shortly after midnight on Wednesday to beat DeGette, a week after similarly progressive candidates swept in New York City primaries. DeGette is the fifth incumbent Democrat in the House to lose their primary this year.
The race highlighted the generational and ideological divides within the party. DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, touted her seniority and leadership experience in her campaign, while Kiros argued that establishment politicians are out of touch with voters. Israel also became a tension point in the primary: DeGette has called Kiros’ views “really extreme,” while Kiros declined to call a firebombing attack at a pedestrian mall in Boulder antisemitic in an interview with NOTUS.
Some Democrats were rattled by what the democratic socialist wins in New York could mean for their party across the country ahead of the midterms. While the First Congressional District in Colorado leans blue, Kiros’ victory is likely to be read as a sign that the anti-establishment energy within the party stretches much further than those New York results alone would suggest.
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The results of the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Colorado on Tuesday were also in this vein: Sen. Michael Bennet was projected to lose to Attorney General Phil Weiser in a race that was a referendum about how best to fight back against President Donald Trump.
Signs that DeGette’s seat might be in danger flashed in the final days of the primary. A trio of pro-DeGette super PACs poured more than $1.3 million into ads attacking Kiros, according to AdImpact. Kiros’ campaign also got a bump late in the race when Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed her.
DeGette’s loss will leave an absence on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Health.
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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
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