‘Really Alarmed’: Jewish Groups Concerned About Democratic Socialist on Colorado Ballot
30th June 2026
A closely watched Colorado primary on Tuesday could see attorney Melat Kiros join a growing class of democratic socialists and staunch Israel critics headed to Congress.
Kiros, a Democratic Socialists of America member, is looking to unseat incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette, in a district that covers nearly all of Denver. The race comes one week after a slate of progressives won their Democratic primaries in New York City, energizing left-wing advocates who are looking for additional victories around the country.
A number of Jewish leaders and groups in Colorado have voiced concerns about Kiros, who drew criticism after calling Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack “inevitable” and declining to refer to the Boulder firebombing attack as antisemitic.
Kiros has made her sharp criticism of Israel and its relationship with the United States a central part of her campaign. Her platform includes a complete arms embargo on Israel and ending military subsidies to the Jewish state.
“Democratic Socialist” is an oxymoron. Socialism is inherently statist and therefore cannot be ‘democratic’.