Melat Kiros sits on a Democratic island in Colorado
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Democratic socialist candidate Melat Kiros. Photo: Timothy Hurst/Denver Post via Getty Images
Two days after her upset in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 1st Congressional District, Melat Kiros stood with party leaders behind a banner that read: "Together We Win."
- Yes, but: Now she appears quite lonely.
The intrigue: Some Democratic candidates are keeping their distance from the 29-year-old democratic socialist on the campaign trail.
- And at least three Democratic moderate candidates are vocally expressing concern about her candidacy.
Why it matters: The box-out on Kiros exposes divisions in the Democratic Party and undercuts the party's unity messaging heading into the November midterms.
State of play: Kiros defeated 30-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette by more than 13 percentage points in the June primary for the Denver-based district.
- At a Democratic Party unity event July 1, she said she was "so honored and so excited to be standing here among fighters."
- U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood) are backing her bid, their spokespeople say, but other members of Colorado's federal delegation are keeping her at arm's length.
Context: Much of the concern centers on Kiros' refusal to call the deadly Boulder firebombing antisemitic and her remarks that the 9/11 attacks were "inevitable" because the U.S. "destabilized a lot of the Middle East."
Zoom in: Three Democratic candidates told Axios they won't endorse Kiros: Dwayne Romero, the 3rd District Democratic nominee, Eileen Laubacher in the 4th District and Jessica Killin in the 5th District.
- "To be honest with you, some of the things that she said, the idea that 9/11 was America's fault … just frankly makes me sick," Laubacher, a military veteran, told Axios.
- Romero told us Kiros' rhetoric "is beneath the standard we should hold our leaders to."
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Aurora) congratulated Kiros on her win, but has not endorsed her campaign.
- Other incumbents, U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Boulder), didn't return messages seeking comment.
- Manny Rutinel, a Democratic state lawmaker competing in Colorado's competitive 8th District, also didn't respond.
The other side: Kiros is finding an out-of-state audience after her blockbuster win.
- She campaigned for Donavan McKinney in Michigan's 13th Congressional District ahead of his upset victory over an incumbent.
- And last weekend, she was listed as a speaker among "national young changemakers" at a Voters of Tomorrow event in Raleigh, North Carolina, that brought together Gen Z voters.
What she's saying: In a statement from her campaign, Kiros said she's "proud to stand with my colleagues."