The Democratic Tea Party is here. Here’s where it might go next.
Progressive challengers are contesting long‑standing Democratic incumbents in Colorado primaries, reflecting a growing intra‑party divide. Attorney Melat Kiros, who was dismissed after questioning Israel’s legitimacy, is running against Rep. Diana DeGette on a platform that includes ending U.S. aid to Israel. Other races feature state senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet facing progressive opponents, with the outcomes seen as a test for the party’s establishment ahead of national attention on similar battles in New York.
- ▪Melat Kiros was fired from a law firm after publicly questioning the geopolitical legitimacy of Israel and is now running for Congress in Colorado’s First District.
- ▪Kiros’s campaign, backed by groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America and streamer Hasan Piker, calls for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel.
- ▪Incumbent Democrats including Rep. Diana DeGette, Sen. John Hickenlooper, and Sen. Michael Bennet are being challenged by progressive candidates who argue the party establishment is out of touch with its base.
- ▪The Colorado primaries are being watched as a potential next front in a broader progressive push that recently saw victories in New York’s House races.
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PoliticsThe Democratic Tea Party is here. Here’s where it might go next.Candidates going hard on Israel and immigration politics are trying to shake up the Colorado party establishment.by Andrew ProkopUpdated Jun 24, 2026, 2:15 PM UTCShareGiftMelat Kiros is challenging Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s First Congressional District. She appeared at a candidate forum on May 28, 2026, in Denver. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesAndrew Prokop is a senior politics correspondent at Vox, covering the White House, elections, and political scandals and investigations.
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