The political strategies of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are expanding their reach across the nation. Following notable primary successes in New York City where DSA-aligned contenders triumphed over establishment-supported opponents, the organization achieved another significant upset in a reliably Democratic U.S. House district in Denver, Colorado.
In Colorado's 1st Congressional District, Democratic Representative Diana DeGette, who first entered Congress in 1997, was unseated by Melat Kiros. Kiros, a 29-year-old first-time candidate and former attorney, received strong backing from the DSA.
Kiros's victory closely followed two other significant progressive wins in New York City. Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive community organizer, ousted incumbent Democratic Representative Adriano Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Concurrently, state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another candidate aligned with the DSA, secured a congressional primary win to succeed the retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez.
These victories by Chevalier and Valdez, who were endorsed by socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, coupled with Kiros's win, are further energizing the progressive left as it confronts the more moderate wing of the party in a high-stakes contest for the Democratic Party's future trajectory.
Progressive Gains in Colorado's First District
The latest DSA primary success occurred in Colorado's 1st Congressional District, a strongly Democratic area centered in Denver. This district saw then-Vice President Kamala Harris win by nearly 56 percentage points in the 2024 election.
The DSA celebrated the outcome on social media, proclaiming, "Another Democratic Socialist is going to Congress!" The organization outlined Kiros's agenda, stating, "Congresswoman Kiros will take the fight for a better world to D.C: to Abolish ICE, free Palestine, and win Universal Childcare and Medicare for All."
Kiros, whose legal career in New York ended after she authored an essay critical of Israel, also garnered support from Justice Democrats. This political group, established nearly a decade ago, is renowned for its substantial backing of "Squad" members such as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, who similarly defeated long-serving incumbents in their initial congressional campaigns.
University of Colorado regent Wanda James, who entered the Democratic congressional primary in April and was characterized as a spoiler candidate, finished in a distant third place, securing single-digit support.
Battleground Races and Ideological Divides
Progressives also achieved a significant win in the adjacent 8th Congressional District, a crucial swing seat that extends along the I-25 corridor north of Denver. State Representative Manny Rutinel secured a decisive double-digit victory over former state Representative Shannon Bird, a candidate with more moderate leanings. Rutinel is now set to challenge Republican Representative Gabe Evans, who flipped the seat in the 2024 election cycle.
This particular race is considered one of two to three dozen contests that could determine whether the Republican Party maintains its narrow majority in the House during the upcoming midterms.
Immigration emerged as a dominant issue in the Democratic primary within a district where approximately 40% of the population identifies as Latino. Rutinel criticized Bird for her vote last year against a measure that would have limited cooperation between local and state law enforcement agencies and ICE. Rutinel's campaign also benefited from substantial financial backing from allies, including prominent Latino advocacy groups.
While Rutinel has moderated his previous support for certain progressive stances, such as Medicare for All and opposition to fracking, Republicans have suggested they view him as a more vulnerable general election opponent compared to Bird. During the primary campaign, conservative groups highlighted images of Rutinel participating in rallies alongside Mayor Mamdani.
"Democrats have chosen a far-left, radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist — someone who supports eliminating oil and gas, defunding law enforcement, calling farmers and ranchers horrific, and threatening the industries that power our economy," Evans asserted in a statement.
Other Notable Colorado Contests
Another primary contest that underscored the division between progressives and moderates, as well as a generational gap within the party, was the Senate nomination battle. This race featured incumbent Senator John Hickenlooper, 74, against former state Senator Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive.
Hickenlooper, a former Denver mayor and two-term governor, observed his once-substantial lead over Gonzales, a former DSA member, diminish in the weeks leading up to the primary election. Despite the narrowing margin, Hickenlooper ultimately prevailed and is now considered the clear frontrunner for the general election against Republican state Senator Mark Baisley, who faced no opposition in his primary.
Gonzales, however, found a measure of success in her defeat, stating, "My heart is full, knowing that we've put the Democratic establishment on notice: keep taking folks like us for granted at your own peril."
Meanwhile, state Attorney General Phil Weiser outpaced U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in the costly and contentious Democratic gubernatorial primary. Weiser, who positioned himself to Bennet’s left on certain policy matters, closed the polling gap by emphasizing his initiatives to challenge former President Donald Trump, including filing or joining numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration during his tenure as attorney general.
While many mainstream Democratic candidates have secured primary victories in recent weeks, it is the far-left's successes that have captured significant media attention. This trend provides additional leverage for Republicans, who are increasingly portraying all Democrats as radicals.
"The socialist takeover of the Democrat Party is no longer confined to deep-blue strongholds. The radicals are taking over battleground districts, putting must-win seats out of reach for Democrats and sinking their chances of flipping the House," stated NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella, referencing Rutinel's victory as an example.
