Melat Kiros defeats Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st Congressional District primary

Melat Kiros defeated U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 1st Congressional District on June 30, 2026. Kiros, a 29-year-old progressive candidate, secured the nomination with approximately 49% of the vote, while DeGette received around 44%. This victory positions Kiros to potentially become the first Black woman to represent Colorado in Congress and only the third woman to hold the seat since 1972. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 10 PM on election night. Kiros was supported by several progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, which contributed over $500,000 to her campaign. In contrast, DeGette's campaign received more than $1.5 million from Pro-Choice Majority Action. Kiros will advance to the general election on November 3, 2026, in a district that leans heavily Democratic.