Who is Melat Kiros? Democratic Socialist defeats 15-term incumbent in Colorado primary

The 29-year-old Democratic socialist, Melat Kiros, has toppled 15-term Incumbent, the US Representative Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary in a Denver-area district in Colorado.

Various US media outlets have projected the latest victory of a leftist over a Democrat as Kiros had a 7,000-vote lead over DeGette on Tuesday.

In the wake of recent triumph, Kiros is now set to win November’s election in a dominating Democratic district.

The 29-year-old Kiros, born in Ethiopia, moved to the US as an infant. Throughout her political career, she reportedly faced backlash for her unwavering stance on Palestine and her alliance with political commentator Hasan Piker.

Former lawyer has also criticised the Democrats for their supporting Israel for genocide. She has also been vocal about her support for accusations of genocide in Gaza and Palestine.

Kiros previously worked as a corporate attorney in New York City. She was fired from her firm in 2023 for writing a post that criticized law firms' responses to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Besides Colorado, New York City has already been swept by the victories of candidates associated with Democratic Socialist and backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

On Tuesday, as per US media projections, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser also defeated US Senator Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination.

At the heart of Melat Kiros’ campaign lies the rejection of political establishment, emphasis on systemic change driven by progressive policy goals and structural reforms. She also advocated for a single-payer healthcare system as the current system only benefits corporate, pharmaceutical and insurance firms.

Her win is a part of a broader trend where the young and progressive candidates are challenging the dominance of established Democrats.