By: Colleen Slevin and Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun
Kiros has tapped into the national discontent for incumbents among Democratic voters and parlayed her social media savviness into a campaign that has DeGette’s supporters incredibly nervous.
29-year-old democratic socialist is giving U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette her biggest challenge in the 30 years since she was first elected to represent Denver, appearing on the verge of pushing Colorado’s longest serving member of Congress out of Washington.
Melat Kiros, who was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders last week, has tapped into the national discontent among Democratic voters toward incumbents and parlayed her social media savviness into a campaign that at the very least has DeGette’s supporters incredibly nervous.
Polling shows the race is neck and neck, including a survey conducted by Kiros’ backers that indicates she may even be in the lead. Millions of last-minute dollars have flowed into Colorado’s 1st Congressional District to try to protect DeGette, who is facing two primary challengers — Kiros and University of Colorado Regent Wanda James.
And at a recent debate, the congresswoman seemed to be up against the ropes, fiercely defending her record and going on the offensive against Kiros, a former lawyer and graduate student who is running for office for the first time.
“Now is not the time to gamble and send somebody with no experience to Washington,” DeGette said.
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