Melat Kiros Wins Colorado Seat, Becoming First Gen Z Woman in Congress
Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, won the U.S. House race for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District on November 3, 2026. The Associated Press called the race at 7:22 p.m. MST, with Kiros leading Republican Christy Peterson 78% to 14%. Unaffiliated candidate Shimon Blau finished third with 6%. Kiros, who defeated 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette in the June primary, will be sworn in on January 3, 2027. She is the first Gen Z woman and first Black woman elected to Congress from Colorado. Her platform focuses on Medicare for All, universal childcare, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. Other Colorado Democrats, including Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen, also won reelection in their respective districts.