Democratic socialist Melat Kiros has defeated 15-term United States Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary in a Denver-area district in Colorado, according to US media projections. The victory marks the latest instance of a leftist candidate unseating an establishment Democrat.

The race was called by multiple media outlets after 78 percent of the votes were counted, with Kiros holding a nearly 7,000-vote lead over DeGette. The election took place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Kiros, a 29-year-old former lawyer who immigrated to the US from Ethiopia as a baby, faced scrutiny over her criticisms of Democratic support for Israel and her association with socialist commentator Hasan Piker. She has called Israel's actions in Gaza "genocide" and was reportedly fired from her job after refusing to remove a post criticizing law firms' stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

With this primary win, Kiros is now favored to win the general election in November in the heavily Democratic district. Her victory follows a trend of progressive candidates challenging and defeating more moderate or established figures within the Democratic Party.

This primary result is part of a broader wave of victories for democratic socialist candidates across the country this summer. In New York City, three candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani also won their respective primaries. These outcomes suggest a growing influence of the progressive wing within the Democratic Party.

In other Colorado primary contests on Tuesday, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser secured the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating US Senator Michael Bennet. Weiser's campaign emphasized his opposition to the Trump administration, highlighting his legal challenges against federal funding freezes and attempts to end birthright citizenship. He is widely expected to win the governorship in November.

Additionally, State Representative Manny Rutinel won the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican US Representative Gabe Evans in a key battleground district. Rutinel, a progressive, defeated former state Representative Shannon Bird in a campaign that focused heavily on immigration issues, positioning him as a strong contender for a potential Democratic pickup in the upcoming midterm elections.

The Denver-area district where Kiros won has trended Democratic over the past two decades, making her general election prospects strong. Her win, however, raises questions about the future direction of the Democratic Party and its ability to balance its progressive and centrist factions.