Momentum on the left is growing as Democratic Socialists expand beyond New York

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is taking its political playbook nationwide.

One week after DSA voters scored a victory at the ballot box over establishment rivals in two congressional primaries in New York City that drew a lot of national attention, the party suffered another major upset in the US House district in Denver, Colorado.

Democratic Representative Diana DeGette, who was first elected to Congress in 1996 and took office in 1997, lost to DSA-backed Melat Kiros, a first-time candidate and 29-year-old attorney.

Kiros’ victory comes a week after Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive activist in New York City, ousted incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and District Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another DSA candidate, to win the retreat of the Nydia convention.

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The victories of Chevalier and Valdez, who were supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, coupled with this week’s win for Kiros, solidify the remaining progressives as they take center-left positions in the uphill battle for the future of the Democratic Party.

Hasan Piker, a controversial, left-wing host, at the Kiros night event in Denver, told Fox News, “I think progressive politics, leftist populism, politics that focuses on the needs of workers, can work in every state, in every state. That’s why I’ve been saying it over and over, it’s coming to a city near you.”

DSA’s latest victory came in Colorado’s first district, a Democrat-controlled seat in Denver where former Vice President Kamala Harris carried nearly 56 points in the 2024 election.

“Another Democratic Socialist will enter Congress!,” DSA wrote on social media. “Congresswoman Kiros will fight for a better country in DC: End ICE, free Palestine, and win Universal Childcare and Medicare for All.”

Kiros, who lost his job as a lawyer in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, is also backed by the Justice Democrats, a nearly decade-old political party known for its strong support of “Squad” members.

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From left, Wanda James, Diana DeGette and Melat Kiros participate in the League of Women Voters Congressional District 1 forum at Montview Presbyterian Church on May 28, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

University of Colorado senior Wanda James, who jumped into the Democratic congressional primary in April and was described as a spoiler, finished third, in the single digits.

Progressives also scored a surprise victory in the neighboring 8th District, a key seat along the I-25 corridor north of Denver.

State Representative Manny Rutinel scored a convincing double-digit victory over former State Representative Shannon Bird, a more moderate candidate. Rutinel will now face Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who turned the seat in the 2024 cycle.

The race is considered one of two or three dozen that will determine whether the GOP holds on to its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.

Immigration has been a top issue in the Democratic primary in a district where nearly 40% of the population is Latino. Rutinel criticized Bird for a vote he cast last year against a measure limiting cooperation between local and state law enforcement and ICE. And Rutinel was boosted by heavy spending from partners, including prominent Latino groups.

State Representative Manny Rutinel won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 8th District. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Although Rutinel has touted his previous support for key progressive issues, including Medicare for All and opposition to fracking, Republicans view him as an easier candidate for the general election than Bird. During the first campaign, the right people highlighted pictures of him together with Mamdani.

“Democrats have elected a radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist – someone who supports the elimination of oil and gas, defunding law enforcement, calls out farmers and ranchers, and threatens the industries that power our economy,” Evans said in a statement.

Another key show that highlighted the divide between progressives and moderates, as well as party divisions, was the Senate nomination battle between incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, 74, and former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive.

Hickenlooper, a former Denver mayor and two-term governor, saw his large advantage over Gonzales, a former DSA member, shrink in the weeks leading up to the primary.

Hickenlooper won and will now be the clear favorite in the general election against Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley, who was unopposed in his primary.

Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado won the nomination for his seat in the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

But Gonzales saw the defeat of silver, writing in a statement, “My heart is full, I know that we have been aware of the establishment of the Democratic Alliance: keep taking people like us for granted at your own risk.”

Meanwhile, state Attorney General Phil Weiser has edged out US Senator Michael Bennet in the Democratic Alliance’s expensive and heated executive race.

Weiser, who ran to the left of Bennet on some issues, closed the gap with the senator as he revealed his efforts to take on President Donald Trump, including filing or joining a number of lawsuits against Trump’s tenure as attorney general.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated US Senator Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination for governor. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Longtime Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 2016 and 2020 presidential candidate, told Fox News Digital that “there is no denying that progressives have built a coalition and have a message that can inspire a candidate if he is an acceptable option in the current situation.”

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Although most of the mainstream Democrats have won primary victories in recent weeks, it is the leftist party that is holding the media spotlight. And that gives Republicans more ammunition as they portray all Democrats as radicals.

“The Democratic Party’s takeover of the Socialist Party is no longer tied to strong blue areas. Radicals are taking over battleground states, putting must-win seats out of reach for Democrats and reducing their chances of changing the House,” said NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella while pointing to Rutinel’s victory.

Fox News’ Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report