Democratic socialist Melat Kiros poised to become the first Gen Z woman in Congress

Melat Kiros has won the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in her Denver-area district, according to an AP race call. Above, Kiros stands near the Colorado State Capitol on March 17, 2026. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite hide caption toggle caption Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite Political newcomer and democratic socialist Melat Kiros is poised to become the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress after defeating 15-term incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette in a primary race for Colorado's 1st Congressional District, according to a race call by the Associated Press. The win in the solidly blue district that makes up most of Denver means that Kiros, a 29-year-old Ph.D. student and lawyer, is all but likely headed to Washington, D.C., next year. She would replace DeGette, 68, who has held office since 1997, the same year Kiros was born. It's an upset that comes amid a broader intraparty fight taking place among Democrats as prominent incumbents face pressure to pass the baton to a slate of more left-leaning and younger candidates pledging to reject longtime political norms and practices. Kiros, an Ethiopian immigrant, is part of that movement, backing economic populist policies including universal healthcare and childcare, and more politically polarizing issues like abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. …