Elections 2026
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Victor Marx holds a steady lead over Barbara Kirkmeyer in Colorado Republican governor contest
Victor Marx overtook state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in the Republican primary for governor on Wednesday evening, seizing a narrow lead after trailing her since polls closed. Kirkmeyer, one of three candidates, opened the night with a clear advantage, at one point leading Marx, a ministry leader, by about 8,000 votes. Scott Bottoms remained in third…
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Democrats confront shift as socialist-aligned candidates win races in Colorado
Democratic socialists’ recent electoral gains — punctuated by Melat Kiros’ victory on Tuesday over U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, the dean of Colorado’s congressional delegation — are the result of a movement that has been taking shape in metro Denver for years. Supporters said the ideology offers worker‑focused policies and answers to widening economic inequality, while…
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Meet the Colorado Republican running against Melat Kiros for CD1
Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros’ victory over 15-term congresswoman Diana DeGette has catapulted into the national consciousness, as part of a larger story about the ideological tug-of-war within the Democratic Party. It also suddenly put the spotlight on the Republican candidate, who, in theory, could prevent Colorado from sending Kiros to Congress in November. That candidate…
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How Melat Kiros pulled Democratic Party left in upset win over Diana DeGette
“It’s time for change,” Democratic congressional candidate Melat Kiros, a political newcomer and self-described democratic socialist, said in her campaign’s TV ad. On Tuesday night, primary voters in Denver agreed, giving the nomination to the 29-year-old, while at the same time handing 29-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette her walking papers. Kiros’ commanding win —…
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Victor Marx’s lead sits outside of recount threshold in Republican race for Colorado governor
Ministry leader Victor Marx on Wednesday night overtook state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer in the Republican primary for Colorado governor, securing enough votes that — for now — put the race beyond the mandatory recount threshold. The Republican primary race between Kirkmeyer and Marx briefly entered mandatory recount territory on Wednesday afternoon, with just a few hundred…
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Colorado’s Diana DeGette concedes defeat to Democratic socialist Melat Kiros
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette — the dean of Colorado’s congressional delegation — conceded defeat in the race for the 1st Congressional District a day after losing to Democrat rival Melat Kiros in their party’s primary contest. “I want to congratulate Melat Kiros for her victory last night, and I want to wish her all the…
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Landlocked Colorado’s sea-change primary | ANALYSIS
Colorado’s primary elections held in the doldrums of early summer tend to be routine affairs, most often predictable and by the book. Tuesday’s battlefield was anything but. It is no exaggeration to call it a sea change. Its ripples will shape Colorado politics for many years to come. The choice of the next governor The…
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5 takeaways from Colorado’s shocker of a 2026 primary election
Voters in Colorado’s Democratic primary on Tuesday night mostly let their elected officials know that they’re fed up with the party’s Washington politicians and ready to back the most aggressive fighters they can find. At the same time, the voters who cast ballots in the Republican primary mostly embraced the GOP’s establishment, throwing the beleaguered…
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Melat Kiros shocks 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette, winning Colorado’s 1st CD Democratic primary
In the equivalent of a political earthquake, 29-year-old Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s Denver-based 1st Congressional District primary, according to unofficial election results Tuesday night. The Associated Press called the race at 10:03 p.m., with Kiros leading DeGette by just under 6 points with 78% of the vote…
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Dwayne Romero wins Democratic primary, will face Republican Jeff Hurd in Colorado’s 3rd CD
Democrat Dwayne Romero has defeated challenger Alex Kelloff in the primary in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd fended off a challenge from a former state lawmaker, according to The Associated Press. In returns posted at 8:15 p.m., Romero had 55% of the vote to Kelloff’s 44.8% in the Democratic primary,…