Establishment Democrats Have Suffered Heavy Blows In Recent Primaries. They Fear It Could Happen Again In Colorado.
In Colorado, veteran Rep. Diana DeGette is fighting to hold off progressive challenger Melat Kiros in a race that has become part of a wider trend of a growing divide in the Democratic Party between its establishment and more left-wing factions.
The primary is drawing attention far beyond Colorado after a series of upset victories by progressive candidates in New York reignited questions about whether long-serving Democratic incumbents remain vulnerable to anti-establishment challengers.
DeGette, 68, has represented Colorado’s 1st Congressional District since 1997 and is one of the longest-serving Democrats in the House. A member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a longtime supporter of Medicare for All, she has nevertheless become a target for activists who argue she has moved too close to the party establishment because she supported corporate political action committees and her record on Israel-related votes.
Melat Kiros was raised in a working-class immigrant household, and she knows that the current political and economic systems are broken and need bold reform.
That’s why she’ll be a great ally in Congress fighting for a progressive agenda that addresses working families’ needs. https://t.co/Lj9HRQpdiM
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 19, 2026
Her opponent, 29-year-old attorney and Ph.D. student Melat Kiros, has emerged as one of the most closely watched progressive challengers of the 2026 election cycle. Backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna, Kiros is campaigning on a platform that includes Medicare for All, ending corporate influence in politics, abolishing ICE and imposing an arms embargo on Israel.
This is a powerful speech about a new moral direction.
When I ran against an incumbent, Democrats walked away from me when I entered a room. I promised myself I would never do that — not pull the ladder up when I got to Congress.
Watch this by @MelatKirosCO for hope. https://t.co/flrd5EiBOe
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 22, 2026
The contrast between the two candidates has become symbolic of a broader generational and ideological struggle unfolding inside the Democratic Party. According to Axios, several House Democrats privately acknowledge that the race is far more competitive than many expected.
While DeGette has expressed confidence publicly and in conversations with colleagues that she will survive the challenge, lawmakers speaking anonymously said they remain concerned that another upset could further weaken the party establishment.
One Democratic lawmaker told the outlet they believe DeGette could lose, warning that party leadership ignores the growing progressive movement “at its own peril.” The contest has attracted millions of dollars in outside spending, underscoring its national significance.
Advertising from both campaigns reflects the Democratic Party’s internal divide. Supporters of DeGette have emphasized her long record opposing former President Donald Trump, defending abortion rights and criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement while portraying Kiros as too controversial because of past statements.
Kiros’ campaign, meanwhile, argues that DeGette’s acceptance of corporate PAC contributions undermines her progressive credentials. The challenger has also criticized the congresswoman’s voting record related to Israel, an issue that has become increasingly divisive among Democratic primary voters following the war in Gaza.
Kiros herself drew national attention in 2023 after she was dismissed from her law firm for refusing to remove an online essay defending pro-Palestinian advocacy and criticizing Israeli policy.
A Kiros victory would add another member to a growing bloc of progressive Democrats who have defeated incumbents or establishment-backed candidates this year. Those victories have shown that Democratic primary voters are increasingly rewarding candidates who embrace a more confrontational approach toward party leadership and reject corporate campaign contributions.
Kiros has already signaled she would be willing to challenge Democratic leadership if elected. She told Axios she would refuse to support any candidate for House leadership who accepts corporate PAC money, arguing the party has become “too cautious, too incremental, and too afraid of upsetting their donors.”
