Democrats run against DeGette in Denver congressional race

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Voters in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District will consider tax policies and affordability concerns as they head to the polls on June 30.

The district consists of Denver and is entirely contained within the city limits. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, is seeking her 16th term in Congress but is being challenged by two other Democratic candidates in the primary election.

Melat Kiros, a former lawyer, and Wanda James, a business owner, are challenging DeGette for the Democratic nomination. Kiros, a Democratic Socialist, has sharply criticized DeGette’s tenure in Congress and vowed to defeat her.

“Establishment Democrats are beholden to the same billionaires who keep our prices high, burn our planet, and profit from a genocide. We can change that. It starts by changing who we send to Congress,” Kiros’ website reads.

Kiros did not respond to The Center Square’s request for an interview. She has advocated for Medicare for All, universal childcare and a U.S. arms embargo. Kiros immigrated to Denver in 1998 from Ethiopia.

“I’m interested in policies that expand our freedoms,” Kiros told Ballotpedia. “That includes the freedom to choose what we do for work, the freedom to travel freely, and the freedom to live and grow old with dignity.”

DeGette has pushed back against criticisms of her tenure and said she is a progressive candidate. She said she has supported Medicare for All and criticized other candidates for their lack of experience.

“It would be a very bad choice to pick somebody who has never served in Congress or a legislature,” DeGette said.

DeGette has pushed back against the Trump administration. She voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and blocked funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security due to concerns over immigration enforcement throughout the last year.

“We need seasoned people who can fight for us in Washington, who can fight against Donald Trump’s illegal war, who can fight not just to defund but also dismantle ICE,” DeGette said. “We need someone who will be a leader in the next Congress when we take the majority.”

James, a marijuana dispensary owner and board member at the University of Colorado vying for the 1st Congressional District, has also been critical of DeGette. She has focused her campaign on expanding child tax credits, income tax credits and a “College for All” program that would provide tuition-free college for students in families that make less than $125,000 per year.

“I will fight in Congress for the same chance for every student,” James told Ballotpedia. “I will protect and expand Pell Grants, which open doors for students not born into wealth, ensuring college is accessible without lifelong debt.”

Christy Peterson is the lone Republican seeking to challenge DeGette in November. Peterson, who’s running unopposed in the GOP primary and will be on the Nov. 3 ballot, told The Center Square she is focused on reducing crime in Denver and providing more funding for local police.

“I want to clean up our cities so crime and lawless behavior is removed and cannot return,” Peterson said. “Without the crime, businesses can once again return, our citizens and visitors can return to enjoy the cafes, restaurants, shopping and cultural experiences of inner city life again.”

Peterson has also applauded the Trump administration’s efforts to pursue fraud in federal programs. She called on further investigations and prosecutions of fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

“So-called ‘good’ programs are not helping people, they’re creating government dependency,” Peterson said.

Degette leads fundraising efforts in the district with more than $975,000 in campaign contributions, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings. She received $1,000 from the Johnson and Johnson Political Action Committee, $1,000 from Dominion Energy PAC and $2,500 from the Liberty Mutual Insurance PAC.

Kiros follows behind DeGette with more than $376,000. She has vowed against taking donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other corporate PACs. James has more than $234,000 and is the third-highest earner in the race.

Both Kiros and James have primarily received campaign contributions from small, individual donors. Ballotpedia classifies the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District as a “battleground race.”

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 30, Election Day. For more information visit the Secretary of State’s website, coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections. Early election results will be published on that evening at www.thecentersquare.com/colorado.