Melat Kiros, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, meets with members of Washington, D.C.’s Ethiopian diaspora during an event at Punch Bowl Social in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., March 15, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old attorney and democratic socialist who has refused to condemn a firebombing attack on a hostage vigil as antisemitic, has defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in Colorado’s Democratic primary — marking another high-profile victory for the party’s left wing and elevating one of its most vitriolic critics of Israel to the cusp of Congress.

Kiros defeated DeGette, a 29-year incumbent, by a nearly 10-point margin, with nearly 90 percent of votes counted in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. The result underscores the growing influence of progressive activists in safely Democratic districts, where debates over economic policy, the party leadership’s failure to thwart the agenda of the Trump administration, and US support for Israel have increasingly become defining issues in primary elections.

Kiros, who was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and several anti-Israel organizations, has campaigned on policies including Medicare for All, tuition-free public college and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She has also called for ending US military assistance to Israel and has repeatedly accused Israel of committing so-called “genocide” in Gaza, a characterization that Israel strongly rejects and that remains the subject of ongoing legal and political dispute internationally.

Israeli officials say their military campaign in Gaza has been aimed at dismantling Hamas while minimizing civilian casualties, though international organizations have raised concerns about the humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Her views on Israel have been among the most closely watched aspects of her campaign. Kiros previously drew national attention after leaving a law firm amid controversy surrounding statements she made defending anti-Israel campus protests following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. These protests drew immense criticism over their oftentimes explicit support for terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Kiros was also repudiated by fellow Democrats for her refusal to condemn a 2025 firebombing of a vigil commemorating the hostages taken captive during the Oct. 7 massacre as antisemitic. The suspect, Sabry Soliman, threw Molotov cocktails at attendees while holding a flamethrower and shouting “End Zionist” and “Free Palestine.” Subsequent FBI reports reveal that Soliman claimed he wanted to kill all Zionist people.

In an interview with a local news outlet, Kiros refused to characterize the attack as antisemitic. “I don’t know what was in the heart of the perpetrator,” she said. “All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed,” she added.

She also drew ire after stating during an interview that the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks against the United States were the “inevitable consequence” of American foreign policy.

Supporters describe Kiros as a new generation of Democratic leadership willing to challenge entrenched political institutions and corporate influence. Critics, however, argue that her positions on Israel risk deepening divisions over US foreign policy, particularly at a time when antisemitism has become a growing concern in the nearly three years following the Oct. 7 attacks.

DeGette, one of Colorado’s longest-serving members of Congress, argued throughout the campaign that experience and legislative accomplishments were critical during a period of political uncertainty. DeGette has also voted against sending Israel military aid in the past but refused to indulge in the most extreme elements of anti-Israel commentary promoted by the party’s left flank. Voters in the heavily Democratic district ultimately opted for change, adding another victory to a string of recent progressive primary successes across the country.

Because Colorado’s 1st Congressional District is overwhelmingly Democratic, Kiros is widely expected to be favored in the general election, potentially joining a growing bloc of left-wing lawmakers expected to push the Democratic caucus toward more confrontational positions on issues including healthcare, immigration and US policy toward Israel.

In recent weeks, a flurry of anti-Israel progressives have emerged victorious in Democratic primaries, striking fear among supporters of the Jewish state that the longstanding alliance between the US and Israel could be in jeopardy. Kiros’ political ascendance does little to assuage concerns among pro-Israel Democrats about the party’s future direction on the issue.